Asks Chd Administrator to ensure the safety of media persons besides initiate an action against the accused)
Chandigarh, April 19, 2020: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal today strongly condemned the incident involving misbehaviour against senior journalist Devinderpal by Chandigarh Police personnel even as he asked the Chandigarh administration to look into the law and order situation following wayling of another senior journalists Gurupdesh Singh Bhullar by miscreants.
The SAD president also asked the Chandigarh Administrator to ensure the safety of media persons besides initiating action against the accused, including police personnel who should be suspended immediately.
In a statement here, Mr Sukhbir Badal said it said it was unfortunate that front-line warriors against the deadly virus were being targeted by the police force. He said media persons were playing a crucial role in making people aware about COVID-19 and even assisting the government in this task. “Detaining a journalist who has stepped out during curfew is condemnable and stern disciplinary action should be taken against the erring officials”, he added.
Giving details Mr Badal said senior Journalist Daviderpal was detained by the Chandigarh police while he was walking to his office. He said the SHO treated him like a criminal and heaped abuses on him before forcibly taking him to the police station. “The police officer did not stop threatening and misbehaving with journalist even after he showed his ID and he was let off only after some higher ups intervened in the matter”.
Citing another instance where a journalist was looted by some miscreants in the City, the SAD president said another Punjabi journalist Gurupdesh Singh Bhullar was going for a media assignment when he was waylaid by some miscreants who ran off with his belongings included money and gold rings. “It is strange that media persons are being targeted in the city which is under a heightened state of vigilance following the lock-down situation. The Union territory administration should take notice of both incidents and act immediately to ensure the safety of media persons,” he added.