Published: January 08, 2010

Mediamen Protest in Kashmir Against Attack on Colleague

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Srinagar, Jan 8: The mediamen in Indian administered Kashmir on Friday staged a sit-in to protest against the shooting of a photo-journalist by a police officer in Srinagar on Thursday.

A lenseman of a local English newspaper, Amaan Farooq had sustained injury in leg after being allegedly hit by a bullet fired by a police officer. The incident took place inside the hotel were two militants fought 22-hour long gunfight in Srinagar before being shot dead. After the end of the gunfight, the policemen allowed photojournalists entry inside the hotel to click the pictures.

The incident has been widely condemned by media fraternity here.

On Friday mediamen took out a protest march and staged a sit-in in city centre. Carrying placards and banners, they were demanding an end to attacks on media persons. "The chief minister Omar Abdullah should act against the guilty police officers within two days, otherwise he should declare that 4th Estate has no support here," BBC's North India Correspondent, Altaf Hussain said while addressing the protesting mediamen.

He said the journalists have been performing their duties so that truth and facts are revealed to everyone. "Like soldiers, we also have our professional requirements. There must be clear-cut guidelines to the soldiers in this regards," he said adding, "Initially soldiers used to abuse us but now they have started to kill us."

Inspector General of Police, Farooq Ahmed has ordered an inquiry into the incident.

Fayaz Wani reports on life in Srinagar, Kashmir.