By IANS,
Bhubaneswar: A white paper released Saturday by a media organisation here detailed more then 30 incidents of attacks on scribes in Orissa during the past five years.
Expressing concern over the rising incidents of attacks, the document demanded stringent action against those involved in such crimes.
“A distinct pattern has begun to emerge in the targeting of journalists in the state” read the white paper released by Media Unity for Freedom of Press (MUFP).
The function was attended by journalists and editors of various newspapers and television channels operating in the state.
“It is now a systematic attempt to identify and punish all journalists or groups of journalists, who may have an opinion that may not be to the liking of the ruling political and bureaucratic class,” it said.
Narrating one of the latest attacks, the document said a reporter and a cameraman of a local television channel were chased and beaten up by ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party workers in the presence of a minister and local leaders Feb 28 at Banki in Cuttack district.
They were beaten up while covering a black flag demonstration by the opposition party workers, it said.
Same day a reporter and a cameraman of another channel were beaten up by anti-social elements at port town of Paradip when they were covering a protest by local residents in front of an oil company, the white paper said.
In both the incidents the miscreants snatched away the cameras and destroyed visual evidence, it said.
The white paper also cited the case of a woman journalist, who was molested by uniformed men during a religious festival in Bhubaneswar.
MUFP also released a digital version of its report on a CD.
“It is as if politicians, bureaucrats and corporate houses have been assured by someone that nothing will happen to them no matter how brazen the attacks (against media) are,” the white paper said.