By SK.Vyas
Jalandhar, August 26, 2017: Condemning the violence unleashed by Sirsa Dera followers on Friday at Panchkula and in other areas of Haryana after the decision of the CBI court to convict the Dera head in a rape case, Punjab Press Club, Jalandhar has said that journalists and their vehicles were specifically targeted by the violent followers and several journalists had a narrow escape and some were even injured.
During a general body meeting of the Press Club, journalists held that there was a clearly a pattern in attacking the journalists in Panchkula and elsewhere and it could not have happened without instructions from senior functionaries of the Dera.
In the meeting presided by Press Club president Dr Lakhvinder Johl, the journalists also decided to request Punjab and Haryana High Court Acting Chief Justice to get it investigated that who had instructed and conspired in Dera management for the targeted attacks on media not only in Panchkula but at other places also even as media was playing a neutral role and the OB vans or media vehicles were parked at the sites specified the Haryana police authorities. Press Club members said that it was only due to active intervention of the Punjab and Haryana High Court that action was taken against the violent mobs otherwise loss of lives and property could been several times more.
TV journalist Vinaypal, whose car was burnt by the mob, said that his two colleagues had a narrow escape from the rioters who first chased them and then tried them to find out even as they hid in a building to save their lives. A lap top, camera, light unit, mikes and other items were also in the car when it was torched.
Press Club demanded that loss caused to the media persons and organizations should also be compensated. The journalists also paid tribute to Sirsa based late journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati, who was murdered after he published the letter written by a Sadhvi to PM.
Press Club also passed a resolution condemning the Haryana government for its complete failure in handling the situation which led to loss of lives and property.