Enquiry Report on the Assault of Photo-Journalist - Soiru Komarpant is "Out"

The much talked about inquiry instituted by the government into the assault of photo-journalist by police during Margao riots has failed to identify the culprit. Instead the inquiry report has suggested special jackets be given to photo journalists while covering incidents of Violence.


Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had ordered inquiry following complaint that the Photo-journalist Soiru Komarpant was assaulted by police while he was discharging his duty at one violent incident in Margao 2 years back .
Then additional collector Swapnil Naik was entrusted with a job to carry out the inquiry. Two and half months back Naik submitted his detail report to the Home ministry. Reporters should be provided with proper identity cards and the identity should be displayed along with Jackets. Secondly those journalists who are covering violent incidences or beats which involve risks should be covered under Health Insurance so that immediate medical help can be made available, the report has suggested in general.

As far as case of Komarpant is concerned, he should be given compensation by government, the report has concluded.
Report has not put onus on anybody about the alleged assault. 


Source - Digital Goa

The Eighth Deadliest Country for Journalists - Wall Street Journal Blog

In a Report published today to mark World Press Freedom day, Reporters Without Borders names 40 such devils around the world that it calls predators of press freedom.

The devils are the “politicians, government officials, religious leaders, militias and criminal organizations that cannot stand the press, treat it as an enemy and directly attack journalists,” report says.

In India, the devil is mostly kept at bay because journalists here “take pride in their freedom and will defend it robustly in street protests or before the court,”  a separate report maintained online by the world media watchdog says on India.

But the report on India also notes that the safety of journalists is precarious in some Indian states like the Naxalite-affected Chhattisgarh where “local reporters are regularly accused by police of being ‘Maoists’ and by insurgents of being ‘traitors’.”