KEG Boycotts Police; Seeks Action, Apology

SRINAGAR: Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG) on Saturday took a strong note of unwarranted police action against news photographers.

Members regretted recurrence of such assaults thus making discharging of professional duties of photographers very difficult, a statement issued after a marathon meeting here said.

Given the fact that the police have not even registered an FIR, for which the photographers have already moved an application, the KEG decided that it will, in protest, not publish any press note of the police or any advertisement from the police organization, till police chief does not apologise for the assault and act against the accused officials.

Police on Thursday attempted harming news photographers by running a vehicle over them and made a serious bid on the life of Tawseef Mustafa by trying to suffocate him. This was done by a police officer under the full glare of the camera.

The KEG said there are photographic and videographic evidences, offering a clear detail of the police assault on the mediapersons.

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After the meeting, in solidarity with the news photographers, the Guild president Fayaz Ahmad Kaloo led a joint protest march. The symbolic protest was attended by working journalists, photographers and those working for the TV channels. Guild members were part of the protest.

KPPA president Farooq Javed Khan, who was present on the spot, had alleged that a police driver rushed his Rakshak vehicle, seemingly to hit the scribes.

While they barely managed to save themselves, Mubashir Khan of a local newspaper had the vehicle crushing his foot, he had said.

AFP photographer Tawseef Mustafa was caught by an officer by his throat, who attempted to suffocate him. The policeman even threatened the mediaperson of dire consequences, he added.

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