iTV journalists heckled, attacked, NBF expresses ‘deep concern’

What transpired in the national capital on Tuesday has put the spotlight back on the protesting farmers. The farmers’ side claims that lumpen elements hijacked the “peaceful” protest on Republic Day. 

It all started at 8 am when protesters started entering Delhi on foot. It had been agreed upon, by both the farmers and the Delhi Police, that the tractor rally would enter Delhi at 11:30 am, after the R-Day parade got over. 

Soon, the situation at ITO, Nangloi, Mayur Vihar and the Red Fort turned violent. The protesters attacked DTC buses and vandalised public property, while the Delhi Police had to resort to warning shots of tear gas and mild lathi charge.

While covering the events and bringing the readers and viewers up to speed, ITV Network’s journalists were heckled, threatened and physically attacked. It appears to be the handiwork of unidentified anti-social elements aimed at disrupting and creating violence in New Delhi.

Aishvarya Jain, reporting from the Red Fort, was caught by the collar and threatened, then hit and made to leave the spot. Ajit Shrivastava was suddenly surrounded by protesters with rods and sticks and hit with the sticks in Nangloi. Priya Singh and Aditya Nair, who had been reporting from the Red Fort, were threatened and asked to leave.

Reacting to the incident, the News Broadcasters Federation (NBF) expressed its “deep concern and anguish” at journalists and media personnel being threatened and physically attacked while covering the tractor rally on Republic Day. 

“NBF strongly condemns any act of verbal or physical assault on journalists during their professional duty in public interest. As an industry organisation, we call upon the authorities to immediately initiate strict action against the perpetrators, and ensure the safety and security of journalists covering on-ground news events,” said R. Jai Krishna, Secretary-General, NBF. 

Senior Advocate Dr G.V. Rao, while speaking to NewsX, said that the culprits must be booked and punished. While Anup George Chaudhary, a senior advocate in the Supreme Court, said that the incident is condemnable and that media freedom must be defended at all costs.

 Defending the cause of the farmers and claiming that the protests were hijacked, All India Secretary Bharatiya Kisan Sangha›s Mohini Mohan Mishra said that the hooligans must be brought to book and those threatening the journa