News

RSF is protesting the arrests of three senior journalists in the state of Assam. According to RSF's information, on 10 February 1999, Naresh Kalita, news editor of the vernacular daily "Agradoot", was arrested by the police on charges of aiding and abetting separatist militants. A police statement said that he was jailed after the confessions of a militant of the United Liberation Front of Assom...

The World Association of Newspapers has asked the Indian government to ensure a quick and thorough investigation into the murder of Indian journalist Shivani Bhatnagar, a member of the special investigations team at the Indian Express newspaper. WAN, which represents more than 15,000 newspapers worldwide, expressed serious concern at the murder and its apparent link to Mrs. Bhatnagar’s reporting...

CPJ is expressing its deep dismay over the brutal murder of Shivani Bhatnagar, special correspondent for the prestigious English-language daily newspaper “The Indian Express”. On 23 January 1999, unknown assailants entered Bhatnagar’s East Delhi apartment, strangled her with a length of wire, and then stabbed her in the neck and abdomen with kitchen knives. Bhatnagar had been at home alone...

RSF is expressing concern further to death threats received by two Assamese journalists. According to RSF's information, in its 23 October 1998 issue, the daily "Amar Asom" said that two senior journalists of the newspaper were threatened with death by a former separatist militant after they enquired about his involvement with the police in an attack on a local businessman. The article said that...

RSF is protesting an assault on two journalists in north-east India. According to RSF's information, on 17 October 1998, Pradeep Behera, a senior journalist with the English-language daily "Arunachal Times", was assaulted by six unidentified persons armed with lethal weapons who entered his home in the state of Arunachal Pradesh. He is in hospital suffering from chest, head and leg injuries. It...

RSF is protesting the new press censorship decided by the Manipur government. According to RSF, during the first week of October 1998, the government of the state of Manipur (northern India) ordered the local media not to publish or distribute statements by the separatist guerillas. The government's directive says that any newspaper which violates the order will be "severely punished under the...

According to CPJ, on 18 July 1998, Assamese editor Ajit Kumar Bhuyan was assaulted by armed men. Bhuyan was threatened, his residence ransacked, and his family terrorized by the incident, which is the latest in a series of arrests and threats made against Bhuyan in recent years. Bhuyan, the editor of the Assamese-language weekly newspaper "Natun Samoy", was at home with his family in Guwahati on...

According to information made available by RSF on 17 July 1998, on 12 July 1998, Puyam Theiba, a reporter for the local newspaper "Panthungfam", was assaulted and injured by army soldiers in the state of Manipur when they raided his house. They claimed that the journalist was involved in anti-Indian activities. Meanwhile, at Nalbari, in the state of Assam, Arup Kumar Sarma, editor of the magazine...

According to information made available by RSF on 8 July 1998, on 7 July 1998, Mathew Marak, editor of the daily "Achik Mikasal", received a letter containing death threats from rebel groups belonging to the separatist Achik National Volunteer Council. The separatist militants said in their threats that Marak had written several reports which were "not correct." Three months ago, photographer W. T...

(IFJ) "Financial Express" journalist Shivaji Sarkar was among a group of bus passengers returning from a pilgrimage who were beaten by army personnel in the hill region of Uttar Pradesh state on 23 June 1998. The passengers had earlier objected to an army vehicle blocking the road. The vehicle pulled up alongside the bus and 20 to 25 army personnel got out and starting beating the passengers. When...