A female journalist was dragged, kicked and punched mercilessly by security guards recently when she attempted to interview a group of hospitalised women at the Guwahati Medical College Hospital, according to delayed reports.
Afrida Hussain of Northeast Television (NeTV), who had a hand broken in the assault on March 31, is now undergoing treatment at the International Hospital, Guwahati.
The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) expressed shock at the incident. “This is appalling treatment of a female journalist, and IFJ demands the authorities launch an immediate investigation into this violent attack,†IFJ President Christopher Warren said.
The women Hussain was reportedly trying to gain access to were wives of missing United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) militants.
The wives have been fasting in protest against the Assam Legislative Assembly since March 21 demanding information on the whereabouts of their husbands who were arrested and have been reportedly detained in Bhutan by the Royal Bhutan Army since December 2003.
Recently charged with “attempt to commit suicide,†the police admitted the women into hospital, with some in a critical condition. Hospital authorities were reportedly advised not to let media enter the premises to cover the story.
When Afrida argued that the people have the right to know what happened to the fasting women, she was manhandled by the male security persons. When she resisted, all securitymen dragged her, kicked her, and then beat her up mercilessly. She was immediately taken to a hospital where the doctor found multiple injuries.
IJU official, Geetartha Pathak, said in a statement, “It is unfortunate that the security persons attacked a frail lady reporter even after Chief Minister’s assurance to a visiting team of Press Council of India in the state that the government would provide security to mediapersons and ensure freedom of the media in the state. It is to be recalled that the assessment committee formed by council, taking suo motu cognisance of the threat posed by ULFA militants to the media, had observed that the media in Assam was under serious threat. The Chief Minister of Assam, Tarun Gogoi, had assured the team he would look into the matter and ensure safety and security of mediapersons.â€
“It is disgraceful that security guards can beat a female journalist into submission to suppress a story, and they must not be allowed to get away with this,†Warren said.
“For her unnecessary sufferings, Hussain should be entitled to an apology and compensation by the Guwahati Medical College Hospital, as well as a full investigation to find those responsible for her attacks,†he said.
Taking suo motu cognisance of newspaper reports about the incident, the Assam Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has called for a detailed reports from the Superintendent of Police (City), Guwahati, and the Principal-cum-Chief Superintendent, GMCH. The reports have to be submitted within four weeks.
“If the news item is believed to be true, it is a case of serious violation of human rights of Afrida Hussain and cameraman Nitul Deka of NeTV, and the commission, therefore, takes suo motu cognisance,†the commission noted.
