Srinagar, January 22, 2019 (PPI-OT): Paris-based media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders or Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), has called upon the Indian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the pellet firing at journalists in Shopian district of occupied Kashmir, today.
At least four photojournalists were injured when Indian troops fired pellets on protesters in Heff Shirmal area of Shopian district, today. The RSF in a statement on Twitter said that the Indian forces’ violence against Kashmiri photojournalists was unacceptable.
“We call on Indian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation on this blatant attack on press freedom. Journalism is not a crime,” it said. Meanwhile, various journalist associations in occupied Kashmir also condemned the attack on the photojournalists by the Indian troops. The Kashmir Press Photographers Association (KPPA) in a statement said that the photojournalists visited the area to carry out their professional duties but they were showered with pellets from a close range.
“KPPA believes that the oft-repeated assault on the photojournalists is uncalled for and employing such tactics by the forces won’t deter us from carrying out our professional duties,” it said. The association also demanded a magisterial enquiry into the incident followed by strict action against the erring forces’ personnel.
Kashmir Video Journalists Association (KVJA) also condemned the attack on journalists in Shopian. “This has become a routine that journalists while performing their professional duties are either thrashed or at time showered with pellets,” the KVJA statement said.
For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org