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United News of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
SC grants interim protection from arrest to MP journalists alleging police assault
New Delhi, Jun 9 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to two Madhya Pradesh-based journalists who alleged custodial torture, caste-based abuse, and death threats from Bhind police officials, including Superintendent of Police Asit Yadav. The petitioners, journalists Shashikant Jatav and Amarkant Singh Chouhan, approached the apex court under Article 32 of the Constitution, claiming that they were assaulted by the state police for reporting on the alleged exploitation of the Chambal River by the sand mafia. A bench comprising justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan, while declining to entertain the writ petition, directed the journalists to move the Madhya Pradesh High Court within two weeks. 'We are not inclined to entertain this petition under Article 32,' the bench said. 'However, looking at the allegations, we permit the petitioners to move the concerned High Court within two weeks from today. Till then, the petitioners shall not be arrested.' Counsel for the journalists pleaded for protection, saying, 'We are fearing for our lives. Kindly protect us for at least two weeks.' The court granted the limited interim relief but made it clear that all further remedies must be sought before the appropriate high court. The case brings to light serious concerns regarding alleged police high-handedness and intimidation of media personnel covering illegal activities in the region. UNI SNG PRS
Indian Express
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Delhi HC orders protection to MP journalist who fled Bhind following ‘abuse, harassment and stripping at police station'
The Delhi High Court Wednesday ordered police protection to a journalist who was allegedly harassed, threatened, and stripped inside a police station in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind earlier this month. While a detailed order is awaited, Justice Ravinder Dudeja orally said the court will direct the Delhi Police to grant protection for 'at least two months'. Journalist Amarkant Singh Chouhan, Bhind bureau chief of the Swaraj Express news channel, had sought relief from the high court, citing 'reasonable threats to his life and personal liberty' as well as that of his family, 'particularly at the hands of SP Asit Yadav of Bhind', after having fled to Delhi. According to the journalist, the SP 'was displeased about the extensive reporting about the illegal sand mining activities in the Chambal river that are carried out by the sand mafia in connivance with the local police.' While the petition also sought the high court to call for a status report into the incident from the Madhya Pradesh Police, Justice Dudeja indicated that it would be appropriate to pursue the remedy before the Madhya Pradesh High Court instead. Highlighting the 'egregious' facts of the case, advocate Warisha Farasat, appearing for Chouhan, said they shall not press for the status report. According to Chouhan's petition, on May 1, he and another journalist Shashikant Jatav were 'invited' to have a cup of tea with Asit Yadav, Superintendent of Police (SP), Bhind, at his chambers, where 'they were physically assaulted and battered by SP Asit Yadav and his subordinates.' 'Further, more than half a dozen other journalists were also present in the SP Asit Yadav's chamber, who had all been stripped down to their undergarments before being physically assaulted and battered prior to their arrival,' Chouhan detailed. On May 4, Chouhan and Jatav were on their way from Gwalior to Delhi 'to meet (MP) Jyotiraditya Scindia to apprise him of their plight' when they were 'picked up by one Saurabh Sharma, another journalist, on the pretext of going to Delhi by road', Chouhan stated. They were then, instead, taken to a nearby dhaba where some police officials were waiting. They took the two journalists to the SP's bungalow to work out a 'compromise', and directed that they should no longer pursue the matter of being assaulted by Bhind Police officials on May 1, and drop the charges. They were once again summoned by the SP to his office on May 5, 'where they were forced to record a video statement in the presence of other police officials, stating that all matters between them and the police have been 'resolved',' the petition stated. The video was then circulated by the Bhind police through WhatsApp with the intention of 'destroying the credibility' of the two journalists, the petition contended. On May 19, the two fled to Delhi to file a complaint with the Press Council of India and the National Human Rights Commission.
Time of India
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
‘Sign of terror, repression': Patwari slams Bhind SP over journalist assault
Bhopal: Congress state chief Jitu Patwari on Sunday launched a sharp attack on the state govt, alleging that the "manhandling" of several journalists by Bhind SP Asit Yadav perhaps defines the "new democracy" in the BJP-ruled states . In a strongly worded press statement, Patwari said police uniform, which should evoke confidence among people, was now becoming a "sign of terror and repression", and if journalists could be abused and beaten up at the behest of the Bhind SP because they asked questions on mining mafia, what would be happening to a common man at police stations could well be understood. Addressing CM Mohan Yadav, he said: "Autocratic tendencies could be seen developing under his regime with powers that are inclined to crush a voice of dissent, freedom of speech and other constitutional rights of the people." He asked the CM whether he would take action against the Bhind SP for his alleged misdemeanour or keep quiet on the incident so as to give a clear message to the mafia, and police that they had a free hand under his govt.
