Mangaluru Police Commissioner, Anupam Agarwal, has directed the traffic police to take strict action against vehicles displaying fake media stickers and individuals misusing counterfeit press identity cards. This order comes after a formal request from the Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists’ Association, which highlighted the rising issue of media credentials being misused and demanded better protection for journalists while they perform their duties. The Commissioner assured the association that swift action would be taken to address these concerns.
Recently, several incidents have raised alarms regarding the fraudulent use of media IDs. In a significant case on Thursday evening, a vehicle involved in a chain of accidents near Kodialbail was found with a counterfeit media ID. Additionally, numerous other vehicles have been spotted using fake press and media stickers, sparking concerns that such fraudulent credentials could be used to engage in illegal activities.
The journalists’ association has called for routine inspections of vehicles with media stickers to prevent further abuse of these credentials. They also urged authorities to ensure the safety and security of journalists while carrying out their work. A memorandum was submitted to the police, signed by key figures from the association, including President Srinivas Nayak Indaje and members of the Press Club, all advocating for immediate measures to tackle this growing problem.
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