THE UNLAWFUL ARREST OF TIMES NOW JOURNALIST BHAWNA KUMARI IN LUDHIANA ON MAY 5 WHILE SHE WAS ON A PROFESSIONAL DUTY, SHE HAD GONE TO COVER THE INAUGURATION OF MOHALLA CLINICS IN LUDHIANA BY DELHI CM ARVIND KEJRIWAL AND PUNJAB CM BHAGWANT MANN WHEN SHE WAS ARRESTED BY A MALE POLICE OFFICER., NO WOMAN POLICE OFFICER WAS SEEN THERE. FOR HOURS HER FAMILY WAS NOT INFORMED. HER COLLEAGUES TRIED TO CONTACT BUT TO NO AVAIL.
(MOREPIC1) Face2News/Chandigarh
In the evening a press release, it was informed that Commissionerate Police on Friday arrested three persons for hitting a woman with a speeding car, resulting in injury on her right hand and also using derogatory language. The three arrested were Bhawna Kumari, Mrityunjay Kumar and their driver Parminder Singh.
As per the press release the said persons used derogatory language against the caste of the complainant due to which SC/ST act was slapped against them.
(SUBHEAD)Now this press release in itself raises questions. If a person is hit by a car, under which law the passengers have been booked? How would one know the caste of the complainant to use derogatory language against their caste? Who among the three used such language to be specific?
It is a blatant attack on the freedom of press and the Chandigarh Press Club condemned the action of the Punjab Police and is taking up the matter with Punjab Governor Sh Banwarilal Purohit, so that guilty official could be brought to the book and directions to be issued so that no such incidence to take place in future.
Earlier also there has been an attack on the freedom of press and the authorities were involved in 'arbitrary suspension' of social media accounts of several Punjab-based journalists and media organisations, said Saurabh Duggal, President, Chandigarh Press Club.