Three national press bodies demand journalist Mandeep Punia’s immediate release

Jan 31, 2021
New Delhi: The Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of India and the Press Association on Sunday condemned the brutal police action against freelance journalist Mandeep Punia, and Dharmender Singh (with Online News India), who were picked up by Delhi Police on January 30 evening from Singhu Border farmers protest site.

The three national press bodies demanded the journalist’s immediate release.

While Dharmender Singh was later released, Mandeep remains in police custody. Mandeep Punia is a young freelance journalist who contributes to The Caravan and Junputh. The Delhi Police used brutal force while picking up Mandeep and did not share his whereabouts to other media colleague entire night.

The copy of the FIR against Mandeep was issued only this morning. Four IPC sections — 186, 353, 332, 34 — have been pressed against him. Mandeep has been reporting on the present farmers’ agitation right from the beginning and his arrest is part of the government crackdown on journalists to prevent them from doing their job independently and freely.

In a statement here, the Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of India and the Press Association demanded  that Mandeep s be freed immediately and no journalist should be disturbed while carrying out their duties at any place.

”Such crackdowns impinge on the media’s right to report freely and interferes with our right to freedom of expression, and freedom of the press as guaranteed by the Constitution of India,” the statement said.

–India News Stream