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EMFA appeals to relax prohibitory order for journalists

Guwahati: Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) has appealed to the district authority to relax the prohibitory order on pillion driving for the city based journalists on duty. The television journalist forum has however asked the reporters, photo journalists and camera persons to carry their identity cards in the duty hours, such that miscreants cannot take the advantage of the situation.
The EMFA statement came following the administration’s prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC with immediate effect since Monday after 15 people were injured in a grenade blast in Guwahati by suspected militants. The prohibitory order, including on the pillion driving, is understood to continue till the Independence Day is over.
The media forum argues that most of the television reporters and camera persons based in Guwahati use two wheelers on duty for the quick and cheaper movement. Hence they should be considered and allowed for the pillion driving.
At the same time, the forum has asked the media persons to collect the recognized ‘J’ stickers, approved by the State DIPR, for their vehicles to help the security personnel in recognizing their identities as the traditional ‘Press’ sticker has lost its credibility to the maximum level in Assam.
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Senior journalist based in Guwahati.

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