ASK expresses grave concern on filing case against the journalists regarding the incidents of violence that took place during the agitation of the Jagannath University.

According to different newspapers, the general students of the University started movement demanding abolition of Section 27(4) of the Jagannath University Act. On September 26, 2011 at one stage of the agitation, the students vandalized some vehicles. On the incident, police filed a case against some three to four hundred persons including 15 journalists. It is also reported by the media that, police included the journalists as accused persons out of suspicion and on being insisted by the intelligence agencies. However, the officer in charge of Kotwali Police Station informed the media regarding the charges for smashing vehicles and obstructing police to perform their duty, “I don’t know it, but they might have incited.” We think this attitude of the administration is a serious threat to freedom of speech and press freedom. At the same time, it certainly puts a question mark on the responsibility of the present democratic government to uphold press freedom and freedom of speech.

We urge the government to take steps more carefully in this regard, and also to identify and take steps against the real offenders without indulging to mere suspicion.