New Delhi, 28 January 2021: The Indian Journalists Union expresses serious concern over the stalking of award-winning journalist Neha Dixit and an attempt by miscreants to break into her house. The IJU demands that the police nab the culprits and ensure her security.

According to her tweet, Neha said she is being stalked since September. The stalker, she adds  identifies her “exact physical location” through phone calls, threatening her with “rape, acid attack and death” and that she is being targeted for performing her duties as a journalist. On 25 January night, Neha said ‘someone tried to break into my house and ran away when I shouted and opened the door.’ She has filed a police complaint at the local police station and police is investigating.

In a statement, IJU President and former member, Press Council of India, Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General and IFJ Vice President Sabina Inderjit said that the intimidation and harassment of Neha by some people should be seen as an attempt to silence independent journalism as her reportage and investigative articles have greatly embarrassed the ruling establishment.

The fact that she faces up to 300 abusive messages a day, is unacceptable in any civilised society, said the union and demanded that the Delhi police take up the case and complaint with earnest sincerity and bring the culprits to book. The media fraternity too said the union must seek strong action to stop cyber-bullying and online harassment of women journalists.