Mumbai: Maharashtra government today said
it would bring an ordinance stipulating stringent punishment
for attacks on journalists.
The government decision follows a series of attacks
on journalists in the recent past, the latest being yesterday
when a TV reporter was thrashed by a mob while he was covering
a story.
"We would bring an ordinance preventing attacks on
journalists in the next cabinet meeting for approval," Chief
Minister Ashok Chavan told reporters today.
A delegation of journalists met Chavan on the issue
demanding the government should come out with a legislation to
prevent such attacks in future. Home Minister R R Patil who
was also present, instructed police officials to handle the
issue seriously.
The journalists also complained that the police lodged
false cases against the reporters in earlier attacks. Patil
asked the city police commissioner Sanjeev Dayal to enquire
into the complaints.
Journalists earlier in the day protested against the
attacks before the Chief Minister`s residence at Varsha in
south Mumbai.
In the latest incident, Amit Joshi, a reporter from
Zee News was attacked by a mob while covering a fire at Dadar
yesterday. He is being treated in KEM hospital.
Bureau Report
