Srinagar: The Jammu and Kashmir Young Journalist Association (JKYJA) has strongly condemned the booking and severely beating of a local journalist Mushtaq Ganaie while he was on his professional duty.
Mushtaq Ganaie, who works for a local newspaper, was arrested in the afternoon of 11 April, when he was traveling towards home, near Sumbal. He was later booked on charges of “creating hurdles in police officer’s duty” and detained for two days in the lock-up. An FIR bearing number: 60 of 2020 was registered against him.
The journalist was released two days later after his family members approached court and got bail orders. His car however continues to remain seized in the police station.
The Jammu and Kashmir Young Journalist Association (JKYJA) urged upon the Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh to look into the matter, and appealed to withdraw all the false charges against the journalist.
The JKYJA spokesman said beating and unwarranted arrest of the media persons who are risking their lives in the field to discharge his professional obligations is unaccepted and matter of great concern, adding, since Media men like Healthcare Workers and Law-enforcing Agencies are playing their role during the ongoing fight against the COVID-19, so they need to be hailed and not humiliated. Hence your intervention is needed to sift the grain from the chaff.
