Udupi: A delegation of Udupi District Working Journalists’ Association on Thursday March 30 submitted a memorandum to Udupi District Superintendent of Police Hakey Akshay Machhindra, demanding appropriate legal action against fake journalists who are extorting money by threatening some people.
About 170 members of the Udupi District Working Journalists’ Association, an affiliate of the Karnataka Working Journalists’ Association, Bengaluru, are performing their duties with integrity. However, recently, it has come to the notice of the association that some individuals in the District are involved in collecting, extorting and threatening money in the name of journalists’ association and journalists, the delegation stated.
There is no need to pay for publishing or broadcasting news in any newspaper or TV. However, the association has received complaints about some fake journalists indulging in the racket of extorting money in the name of news, they stated. The plea also demanded that legal action should be taken against fake journalists who indulge in collecting money in the name of journalists in this manner.
“Similarly, the association has received complaints about some persons putting up media and press stickers on their vehicles and carrying out illegal activities in view of the fact that the Police Department has set up check posts across the District in view of the ongoing elections,” the delegates stated. The plea demanded that such vehicles should be checked necessarily at the check posts and immediate action should be taken if any illegal activity is found in it.
District President of the association Rajesh Shetty Alavoor said, “Our members have been given identity cards and official media stickers for vehicles by our association. Anyone who comes to collect money in the name of journalists should lodge a complaint with the local Police Stations against them and also bring it to the notice of our association,” they added.
