Judicial magistrate to try pending attack cases on scribes

Capital Complex Deputy Commissioner Sanjay Goel in a statement today said all cases related to attacks on scribes, being tried in the courts of various judicial magistrates, have been withdrawn and transferred to the court of the Talo Potom, judicial magistrate (first class).

The move to ensure speedy trials and issuing of orders as per merit of the cases followed an uproar in Arunachal Pradesh media over acts of violence against journalists.

Potom has been empowered to conduct hearings on a day to day basis.

Official sources said Goel yesterday had held a meeting with all the magistrates under his jurisdiction.

Journalists on July 19 staged a dharna in front of the Assembly demanding immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the firing at Tongam Rina, Associate Editor of Arunachal Times, the oldest English daily of the state, here on Sunday.

A delegation of media persons also called on Governor Gen (retd) J J Singh at the Raj Bhavan on Wednesday and submitted a memorandum on the issue.