GANGTOK, 28 Jan: Press Club of Sikkim (PCS) submitted memorandums on the attack on a local media house to Governor Shriniwas Patil, the Chief Minister’s Office, Director General of Police, Jasbir Singh and Sikkim Democratic Front (SDF) vice president KB Chamling today.
A PCS release informs that a three-member PCS delegation consisting of president Bhim Rawat, general secretary Joseph Lepcha and publicity secretary Chewan Krishna Dahal along with Sikkim Express editor Amit Patro and associate editor Bijoy Gurung submitted a memorandum to Governor Patil at Raj Bhavan.
In its representation, the PCS urged the Governor to direct the administration for swift and strict action against the accused person and to ensure stronger security and safe working environment for all media workers in Sikkim. The Governor was also briefed by the PCS delegation about previous attacks on media houses and journalists in Sikkim.
The release informs that the Governor directed Raj Bhavan secretary R. Telang to contact the Chief Secretary, R Ongmu on the grievances and concerns raised by the PCS. Such attacks on media should not be repeated and plainclothes police should be deployed in areas where the media houses are located, he said.
“What happened today should not have been happened. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure security of the media,” said the Governor during the 10-minute long interaction with the PCS delegation, it is informed.
The PCS delegation then submitted a similar representation to the Chief Minister’s office in Samman Bhavan detailing the attack on Sikkim Express. The PCS requested Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for strong action against the miscreant and to dispel fears among the journalists about their safety.
The Chief Minister has directed the Chief Secretary to “initiate strict action as per law”. A copy of the directive spelt out in the PCS memorandum was also dispatched to the PCS office here at DPH, the release mentions.
Executive committee members of PCS along with working journalists also marched up to the Sikkim Police headquarters to submit a memorandum to Director General of Police (DGP) Jasbir Singh. The DGP was reminded about a similar attack of November 2012 on Sikkim Now! Office and his assurances given then to the PCS that such incident would not be allowed to occur again.
Mr Singh told the PCS delegation that prompt action has been taken by the police on the incident. He assured that police will take strong legal approach on the case against the accused person. He further informed that police patrolling along the areas where media houses are located would be strengthened, the release adds.
A high-level meeting will be held with PCS on establishing a security mechanism for journalists during the upcoming elections, said the DGP.
The fourth memorandum on the incident was submitted to the SDF headquarters here at Indira Bypass. The representation was received by SDF vice president KB Chamling who assured that the party would probe the claims of the accused person of being an SDF member and if so, take strong action against him.
Siliguri Press Club [SPC] has strongly condemned the attack on Sikkim Express and Himali Bela office. SPC president, Pramod Giri has demanded that the state government take strong action to create an environment for independent journalism in Sikkim.
Accused not a party member, SDF clarifies, condemns attack on media
Sikkim Democratic Front has clarified that Phurba Sangay Sherpa, who attacked the office of Sikkim Express and Himali Bela on Tuesday is not a member of the party even though he claims to be one. SDF has asserted that it does not take any responsibility for the accused, who, the party states, has tried to defame its name and image.
An SDF press release issued by the publicity secretary, Chudamani Mishra states that it is possible that the Opposition used this person and instigated him into the act to defame the ruling party. SDF has further strongly criticized and condemned the incident.
The party has also demanded strong legal action against the accused in the attack on Sikkim Express and Himali Bela office and on journalists, Prakash Adhikari and Homnath Dawadi earlier on 22 January.
Meanwhile, it is informed that the party has expelled Sonam Tshering Lepcha of Sawreni under Namcheybong constituency from the party for indiscipline.
SKM condemns attack on media, blames SDF
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha [SKM] has criticized and strongly condemned the attack by a person who they are convinced is a member of the ruling party on Sikkim Express and Himali Bela office this morning. The party has alleged that the incident only adds to the long list of attacks on the Press during the 20-year SDF rule in Sikkim.
An SKM press release issued by its spokesperson, MN Dahal, alleges that the accused was a close friend of one of the Chief Minister’s sons in whose name the vehicle is also reportedly registered. With his son being involved in such an incident, the CM should step down as the Chief Minister on moral grounds, the SKM demands.
Stating that no judicial enquiry or action has been taken on attacks on the media in the past, SKM has argued that this proves the autocratic rule of the SDF government.
Passing off party workers as journalists and accusing SKM of attacking them is totally wrong, the release states further, while commenting an earlier incident when journalists belonging to Samay Dainik and Swarnabhoomi were recently attacked by alleged SKM workers in Temi.
SPA condemns
Sikkim Press Association [SPA] has strongly condemned the attack on Sikkim Express and Himali Bela office at Tadong this morning and demanded stringent action against the accused.
An SPA release informs that this was decided during an emergency meeting of the association chaired by the SPA president, Xavier Subba, today. The association has further demanded that the administration ensure the security of media persons in the state. The association highlights that this incident, so fresh on the heels of the attack on two journalists at Temi [in a clash between SKM and SDF], has offered more cause for concern for the security of journalists.
A PCS release informs that a three-member PCS delegation consisting of president Bhim Rawat, general secretary Joseph Lepcha and publicity secretary Chewan Krishna Dahal along with Sikkim Express editor Amit Patro and associate editor Bijoy Gurung submitted a memorandum to Governor Patil at Raj Bhavan.
In its representation, the PCS urged the Governor to direct the administration for swift and strict action against the accused person and to ensure stronger security and safe working environment for all media workers in Sikkim. The Governor was also briefed by the PCS delegation about previous attacks on media houses and journalists in Sikkim.
The release informs that the Governor directed Raj Bhavan secretary R. Telang to contact the Chief Secretary, R Ongmu on the grievances and concerns raised by the PCS. Such attacks on media should not be repeated and plainclothes police should be deployed in areas where the media houses are located, he said.
“What happened today should not have been happened. It is the responsibility of the government to ensure security of the media,” said the Governor during the 10-minute long interaction with the PCS delegation, it is informed.
The PCS delegation then submitted a similar representation to the Chief Minister’s office in Samman Bhavan detailing the attack on Sikkim Express. The PCS requested Chief Minister Pawan Chamling for strong action against the miscreant and to dispel fears among the journalists about their safety.
The Chief Minister has directed the Chief Secretary to “initiate strict action as per law”. A copy of the directive spelt out in the PCS memorandum was also dispatched to the PCS office here at DPH, the release mentions.
Executive committee members of PCS along with working journalists also marched up to the Sikkim Police headquarters to submit a memorandum to Director General of Police (DGP) Jasbir Singh. The DGP was reminded about a similar attack of November 2012 on Sikkim Now! Office and his assurances given then to the PCS that such incident would not be allowed to occur again.
Mr Singh told the PCS delegation that prompt action has been taken by the police on the incident. He assured that police will take strong legal approach on the case against the accused person. He further informed that police patrolling along the areas where media houses are located would be strengthened, the release adds.
A high-level meeting will be held with PCS on establishing a security mechanism for journalists during the upcoming elections, said the DGP.
The fourth memorandum on the incident was submitted to the SDF headquarters here at Indira Bypass. The representation was received by SDF vice president KB Chamling who assured that the party would probe the claims of the accused person of being an SDF member and if so, take strong action against him.
Siliguri Press Club [SPC] has strongly condemned the attack on Sikkim Express and Himali Bela office. SPC president, Pramod Giri has demanded that the state government take strong action to create an environment for independent journalism in Sikkim.
Accused not a party member, SDF clarifies, condemns attack on media
Sikkim Democratic Front has clarified that Phurba Sangay Sherpa, who attacked the office of Sikkim Express and Himali Bela on Tuesday is not a member of the party even though he claims to be one. SDF has asserted that it does not take any responsibility for the accused, who, the party states, has tried to defame its name and image.
An SDF press release issued by the publicity secretary, Chudamani Mishra states that it is possible that the Opposition used this person and instigated him into the act to defame the ruling party. SDF has further strongly criticized and condemned the incident.
The party has also demanded strong legal action against the accused in the attack on Sikkim Express and Himali Bela office and on journalists, Prakash Adhikari and Homnath Dawadi earlier on 22 January.
Meanwhile, it is informed that the party has expelled Sonam Tshering Lepcha of Sawreni under Namcheybong constituency from the party for indiscipline.
SKM condemns attack on media, blames SDF
Sikkim Krantikari Morcha [SKM] has criticized and strongly condemned the attack by a person who they are convinced is a member of the ruling party on Sikkim Express and Himali Bela office this morning. The party has alleged that the incident only adds to the long list of attacks on the Press during the 20-year SDF rule in Sikkim.
An SKM press release issued by its spokesperson, MN Dahal, alleges that the accused was a close friend of one of the Chief Minister’s sons in whose name the vehicle is also reportedly registered. With his son being involved in such an incident, the CM should step down as the Chief Minister on moral grounds, the SKM demands.
Stating that no judicial enquiry or action has been taken on attacks on the media in the past, SKM has argued that this proves the autocratic rule of the SDF government.
Passing off party workers as journalists and accusing SKM of attacking them is totally wrong, the release states further, while commenting an earlier incident when journalists belonging to Samay Dainik and Swarnabhoomi were recently attacked by alleged SKM workers in Temi.
SPA condemns
Sikkim Press Association [SPA] has strongly condemned the attack on Sikkim Express and Himali Bela office at Tadong this morning and demanded stringent action against the accused.
An SPA release informs that this was decided during an emergency meeting of the association chaired by the SPA president, Xavier Subba, today. The association has further demanded that the administration ensure the security of media persons in the state. The association highlights that this incident, so fresh on the heels of the attack on two journalists at Temi [in a clash between SKM and SDF], has offered more cause for concern for the security of journalists.
