At least six journalists were killed, another 108 were attacked and 13 media houses were targeted in 2021 while the spotlight on the denial of media freedom continued to be on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), according to a report.
The India Press Freedom Report 2021 by the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) said that IIOJK and other Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh (UP), Madhya Pradesh and Tripura topped the list of areas across India where journalists and media houses were targeted in the last year.
In IIOJK alone journalists found themselves summoned to police stations, First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against them, their houses raided, being manhandled and beaten by Indian security forces.
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Of the six journalists killed, UP and Bihar reported two deaths each while Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra reported the death of one journalist each. Eight female journalists faced arrest, summon and registration of FIRs.
"The highest number of journalists [and] media organisations targeted were in Jammu and Kashmir (25), followed by Uttar Pradesh (23); Madhya Pradesh (16); Tripura (15); Delhi (8); Bihar (6); Assam (5); Haryana and Maharashtra (4 each); Goa and Manipur (3 each); Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (2 each); and Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Kerala (1 each),” read the report.
“The widespread attacks on the press freedom from Jammu and Kashmir to Tripura are an indicator of the continuing deterioration of civic space in the country,” stated Suhas Chakma, the director of the RRAG.
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In 2021, at least 24 journalists were physically attacked, threatened, harassed and obstructed from doing their work by public officials, including police, across India, according to the report. Out of the 24 journalists, 17 were beaten up by police.
Physical attacks on journalists by police were mainly reported from IIOJK.
During the last year, FIRs against 44 journalists were registered, including in some cases multiple FIRs against the same journalists in several states.
Uttar Pradesh reported the highest registration of FIRs with nine; followed by six each in Delhi and occupied Kashmir, and three in Bihar; among others. Out of the 44 journalists, FIRs were filed against 21 journalists under Section 153 of the IPC relating to promoting enmity.
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