JournalismPakistan.com | Published June 11, 2024
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NEW DELHI—India's journalists have faced assaults, attacks, and threats over the past few weeks, with the recent elections and Israel's war on Gaza threatening journalist safety. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Indian Journalists Union (IJU), in condemning these attacks and calling on state and national authorities to take action to guarantee the safety of journalists and uphold press freedom.
On May 31, Vinay Pande, an independent journalist, registered a police complaint after receiving death threats, including one message threatening to behead him, on Instagram. Pande filed a complaint with the Nagpur police, with Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal promising 'appropriate legal action.'
The Times of India reported that the threats were made from an Instagram account with 10,000 followers, which posted pictures of Pande and a teenage female influencer, threatening to behead them. Reportedly, Pande was threatened for his reporting on the Gaza Conflict.
Similarly, on June 1, freelance journalist Bunty Mukherjee was severely injured during violent clashes, reportedly between activists from the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), on the last day of voting in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Canning, a town east of Kolkata. During one confrontation, Mukherjee was struck by a stone in his head and was transferred to the Medica Super Specialty Hospital in Kolkata for treatment.
In a separate incident on May 23, journalist Ankur Jaiswal was allegedly assaulted by BJP leader Satish Bhau and others at a private event in the Banganga area of Indore, in the western part of Madhya Pradesh. The Times of India reported that Jaiswal lodged a police complaint, claiming he was attacked by Satish Bhau and his accomplices following a spat over published material exposing their activities.
The IJU stated, "Geetartha Pathak, President of IJU and former member of the Press Council of India, and Sabina Inderjit, Secretary General of IJU and Vice President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), demand action against those who threatened the Nagpur journalist and media influencer. IJU also demands an inquiry into the incident where the ANI journalist was injured due to clashes between rival political groups and calls for the perpetrators to be held accountable. The IJU urges state governments to ensure the safety and security of journalists, reminding them that India is slipping down the global press freedom index."
The IFJ added, "Journalists and media workers deserve to work without fear of attacks or retribution. Authorities at both state and national levels must ensure press freedom is upheld, the safety of media workers is guaranteed, and all incidents are investigated immediately, thoroughly, and transparently."—An IFJ media release/Photo: AFP
April 01, 2025: Photojournalist Suresh Rajak was burned alive while covering a violent protest in Kathmandu. The IFJ and its affiliates condemn the attack and call for an urgent investigation to hold the perpetrators accountable.
April 01, 2025: Assam Police arrested digital journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder for covering a protest against alleged corruption at Assam Co-Operative Bank. Media organizations have condemned the arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom.
March 27, 2025: Several journalists were attacked and forced to delete footage while covering anti-military protests in Indonesia. CPJ urges authorities to hold the perpetrators accountable.
March 23, 2025: The severed pig’s head sent to Indonesia’s leading news outlet, Tempo, signals escalating media intimidation amid President Prabowo Subianto’s attacks on foreign-funded media.
March 14, 2025: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) urges Maharashtra authorities to ensure their AI-driven media monitoring plan does not undermine press freedom. The initiative, which classifies news as positive or negative, raises concerns over government overreach and self-censorship.
March 11, 2025: Indian journalist and RTI activist Raghvendra Bajpai was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh on March 8 in a targeted attack. Media organizations, including IFJ, NUJ-I, and IJU, demand justice and an urgent investigation into his murder.
March 06, 2025: The arrest of Malaysiakini journalist B. Nantha Kumar by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has raised concerns over press freedom. The IFJ and NUJM call for a transparent investigation amid allegations of bribery and ongoing state harassment of independent media.
February 28, 2025: The Dewan Rakyat passed the Malaysian Media Council Bill on February 26, marking a historic step toward independent media regulation. Supported by journalists, unions, and media bodies, the council aims to set ethical standards, improve working conditions, and reform restrictive laws. The NUJM and IFJ celebrate this milestone while urging independence and adequate resourcing for the council.
April 11, 2025 Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025 The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025 Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025 The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025 Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.