Committee formed to probe attacks on media covering sect violence

The Press Council of India (PCI) Wednesday set up a four-member committee to probe the attacks on media persons covering the stand-off and clash between the security forces and followers of controversial sect leader Rampal in Haryana.

In a letter, PCI chairman Justice Markandey Katju said: "Having considered the reports about the attack yesterday (Tuesday) on media persons by police in Hisar, Haryana, in which several were badly beaten up, their cameras and other equipment broken, I am of the prima facie opinion that this is a serious violation of the fundamental freedom guarenteed to the media by Article 19 (1) (a) of the constitution."

The PCI members who will probe the matter are Sondeep Shankar, Kosuri Amarnath, Rajeev Ranjan Nag and Krishna Prasad.

Katju also asked the authorities in Haryana and Chandigarh to assist the committee in their probe and "ensure that no one interferes with its functioning in any way".

The committee was also asked to conduct a through probe into the matter, and submit its report to the chairman "at the earliest".

Several media persons covering the stand-off and clash between the security forces and followers of controversial sect leader Rampal were injured Tuesday when police carried out an unprovoked attack on the journalists.

Police have been trying to arrest the self-styled guru following court orders in a murder conspiracy.

The media persons were targeted suddenly near the Satlok Ashram, near Haryana's Barwala town, while they were covering the violent clash.

The media had been taken near the ashram complex by police themselves following verbal orders from Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) S.N. Vashisht to the Hisar police officers.

The journalists were attacked on the hands and legs.

In his letter, addressed to the Haryana chief secretary, home secretary and district magistrate among others, Katju said: "The committee may set its own procedure. The committee may meet and talk with media persons, including those who were attacked or whose cameras etc were broken, the journalists, organisations, managements, editors etc, as well as the authroties including the police, and the public at large and others concerned."