New Delhi, 30 September 2024: The Indian Journalists Union expresses concern over alleged assault and looting of Hindustan reporter Pramod Dalakoti at a private college in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, while he was covering a clash between two student groups. The Union demanded that all culprits be booked at the earliest.

 According to reports,on September 28Dalakoti was covering a clash between rival student union leaders associated with Parivartan Kami Chhatra Sangathan (Pachas) and ABVP at the entrance of Motiram Baburam Govt. Post Graduate (MBPG) College. He was reportedly beaten and his glasses and other belongings were stolen while attempting to record a video of the clash. The next day, he filed a complaint at the police station, leading to a case being registered against four students. While two suspectshave been apprehended, authorities are searching for the other two. 

The following day, ABVP students protested outside the police station demanding the withdrawal of the case. This, as the Pachas had organised the event to honour freedom fighter Bhagat Singh by offering flowers at his statue near the main gate of the college, but the rival student union began harassing the members, reportedly beat them and chased them off the campus. 

In a statement, IJU President and former member of Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General and Vice President of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Sabina Inderjit said‘no journalist should be assaulted for covering news, be it a clash between two groups, communal violence, or any other event.’The Union demands an inquiry into the incident and punishment for the assailants. The administration must ensure safety of journalists.