The Press Council of India has initiated suo motu action in the arrest of two journalists of a vernacular newspaper in Andhra Pradesh, the Press Trust of India has reported.
In a letter to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, the media body said that the incident prima facie appears to pose threats to the free functioning of the Press.
"As the statue of the Press Council statute mandates the body to preserve the freedom of the Press, the Press Council has taken cognisance of the matter under Regulation (13) of the Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) regulations," Council Chairman Justice G N Ray said in the letter.
"Whereas a detailed report in the matter had already been called from the Chief Secretary of the state on June 5, 2008, which is still awaited, I will appreciate your personal intervention to ensure that the media in Andhra Pradesh is able to discharge its functions without any pressure or fear," he said.
The office of 'Andhra Jyoti' was attacked and its editor and two journalists arrested on June 24 for publishing an allegedly offensive story on Dalit groups and its leaders recently.
