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JFA condemns assault on journalists

Journalists' Forum Assam (JFA) has condemned the incident of physical assault to Anup Sharma, a city based journalist and Pronib Das, a Dibrugarh based photojournalist today by a group of unruly youths near Maguri Motapung Beel under Guijan police station in Tinsukia district.

Both the journalists had gone there as a part of their training & workshop under the supervision of HICAP in association with the nature conservation organization Aaranyak. Both Anup and Pronib had gone to the Maguri Motapung Beel as part of their study assignments on Tuesday and preferred a boat ride with necessary payment to the boatmen there. However, a group of local youths prevented them from taking the boat ride. When both the journalists tried to convince the youths that their presence were related to a study program focusing on the problems faced by the local people, the youths got furious and suddenly started assaulting both Anup and Pronib verbally and later physically.

"Both the journalists had already lodged a complaint with the Tinsukia police in this regard. While condemning such behavior towards the media persons on duty, we also appeal to the authority to look into the matter seriously," said a JFA statement issued today. The scribe body also appealed to the organizers of any events, where journalists are invited or engaged, to ensure the ambiance where they do not have to face such unruly people at least on their duty hours.

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Senior journalist based in Guwahati.

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