New Delhi, 15 July 2021: The Indian Journalists Union condemns the high handedness of the Haryana police for obstructing journalists covering protests and demolitions in Khori Gaon in the State and demanded that they be allowed to carry out their duties, as the media is the fourth estate.

Reports have emanated of the police continuously harassing and obstructing journalists from covering protests and demolitions in the village. The reporters are said to have been stopped from filming the demolition drive and testimonies of the villagers. Police action included snatching of camera, threat to delete footages and chasing with baton in stopping media persons in covering the demolition drive.

In a statement, IJU President and former Member, Press Council of India, Geetartha Pathak and IJU Secretary General and International Federation of Journalists Vice President Sabina Inderjit said the systematic harassment and threats to the journalists covering Khori Gaon demolition is unacceptable. Journalists have right to cover a large scale demolition drive by the government rendering thousands of family homeless at this juncture when the pandemic brought immense economic hardship to the marginal people. The people have the right to know about what is going on and the State government must respect freedom of press and media rights.