MEDIA UNITES IN CONDEMNATION
GANGTOK, 28 Jan: The media fraternity was up in arms yet again when another media house bore the brunt of an attack early this morning. A person claiming to be an SDF party worker attempted to vandalise the Sikkim Express printing press here at Daragaon and attacked the staff at work there in the wee hours of 28 January.
The accused, Phurba Sangay Sherpa, claiming to be an SDF ‘youth leader’, was overpowered when he barged into the printing press at around 4 a.m. He first attacked a staff member with an iron rod and then brandished a knife at the workers at the printing press there. Two workers were injured in the attack before he was subdued by the press personnel. He was then handed over to the Tadong police outpost.
Before trespassing into the press he also vandalized the press vehicle parked outside.
This attack on the media comes just a little over a year after the attack on NOW! by members of the ruling party. As police sources inform, the latest attack could have had more personal overtones. The accused has reportedly confessed to being drunk at the time of the incident but what is disturbing is that he was beaming with full confidence of immunity against any serious action. This aspect has become the order of the day and against which not only the common people but the police, too, seem to have no answer.
Later in the day, the Press Club of Sikkim met with the Governor to submit a memorandum and seek his intervention in securing the workspace of media in Sikkim. A memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Minister. A meeting was also held in the chamber of the DGP, Sikkim Police.
The DGP assured full cooperation and enhanced patrolling in areas where there are media offices.
However the media fraternity did not seem convinced at such assurances which have been put forward earlier as well. In an attempt to ensure that the police and the administration take serious note of attacks against the media, particularly at such sensitive times with the general elections a couple of months away, a dharna was also staged at the Gandhi statue at MG Marg. A memorandum was also submitted at the SDF party office where senior party leaders assured to inquire into the incident and take strong action against the accused.
The media fraternity is particularly concerned about the way in which the media house was attacked. As per the memorandum submitted to the DGP, the assault was audacious in that the accused arrived in a vehicle bearing the SDF flag and the forcefulness with which he introduced himself as a youth leader before the media personnel present as well as the police which as stated in the memorandum “…gave the impression that he is immune to any law.”
GANGTOK, 28 Jan: The media fraternity was up in arms yet again when another media house bore the brunt of an attack early this morning. A person claiming to be an SDF party worker attempted to vandalise the Sikkim Express printing press here at Daragaon and attacked the staff at work there in the wee hours of 28 January.
The accused, Phurba Sangay Sherpa, claiming to be an SDF ‘youth leader’, was overpowered when he barged into the printing press at around 4 a.m. He first attacked a staff member with an iron rod and then brandished a knife at the workers at the printing press there. Two workers were injured in the attack before he was subdued by the press personnel. He was then handed over to the Tadong police outpost.
Before trespassing into the press he also vandalized the press vehicle parked outside.
This attack on the media comes just a little over a year after the attack on NOW! by members of the ruling party. As police sources inform, the latest attack could have had more personal overtones. The accused has reportedly confessed to being drunk at the time of the incident but what is disturbing is that he was beaming with full confidence of immunity against any serious action. This aspect has become the order of the day and against which not only the common people but the police, too, seem to have no answer.
Later in the day, the Press Club of Sikkim met with the Governor to submit a memorandum and seek his intervention in securing the workspace of media in Sikkim. A memorandum was also submitted to the Chief Minister. A meeting was also held in the chamber of the DGP, Sikkim Police.
The DGP assured full cooperation and enhanced patrolling in areas where there are media offices.
However the media fraternity did not seem convinced at such assurances which have been put forward earlier as well. In an attempt to ensure that the police and the administration take serious note of attacks against the media, particularly at such sensitive times with the general elections a couple of months away, a dharna was also staged at the Gandhi statue at MG Marg. A memorandum was also submitted at the SDF party office where senior party leaders assured to inquire into the incident and take strong action against the accused.
The media fraternity is particularly concerned about the way in which the media house was attacked. As per the memorandum submitted to the DGP, the assault was audacious in that the accused arrived in a vehicle bearing the SDF flag and the forcefulness with which he introduced himself as a youth leader before the media personnel present as well as the police which as stated in the memorandum “…gave the impression that he is immune to any law.”
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