After Mizoram-based journalists were allegedly assaulted by the Assam Police two weeks ago at Zophai along Mizoram - Assam border, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Director General of Police (DGPs) of Assam and Mizoram calling for a detailed report on the alleged physical assault and lathi-charge on Mizo journalists by the Assam Police at Zophai Bairabi area in Kolasib District of Mizoram near Assam border, while they were on a reporting assignment on March 8 and 10.
The NHRC notice came in the wake of complaint filed by the Mizoram Journalists' Association.
The DGPs of the two states have been asked to give a detail report on what had happened in Zophai within four weeks.
The victim journalists were on duty to give ground reporting of the tension between the Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), a students’ body in Mizoram and the Assam Police over the construction of Chawlhbuk - a rest shed by the former.
Report states that the journalists were not spared in the unprovoked firing and lathi charged by the Assam Police as the tension between the activists and the police escalated.
The NHRC in a statement says that “It is also mentioned in the complaint that the journalists were displaying their press identity cards to the police personnel but they were not spared and were beaten black and blue. Many of the journalists, including women, have sustained serious injuries”.
At least 8 Mizoram-based journalists were reportedly beaten up in the lathi charge and unprovoked firing by the Assam Police.
The Mizoram Journalists’ Association, an umbrella body of the state Journalists in the state had also organised a sit-in demonstration across the state on March 13 in protest against the Police brutality and fight for justice against on their fellow journalists.
AIR News, Aizawl
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