New Delhi, Mar 20 (PTI) CPI MP P Sandosh Kumar on Friday condemned the sealing of the office of news agency UNI and called it an assault on press freedom.
In a statement issued here, Kumar said the incident was “unprecedented”.
“The forcible takeover of the Rafi Marg office of United News of India (UNI) — the oldest news agency in the country — by the Delhi Police is a grave and unprecedented assault on press freedom,” Kumar said.
“Journalists were dragged and manhandled; even women journalists were not spared. The employees were denied the basic opportunity to collect their belongings or hear from the management. The entire operation was carried out with shocking disregard for legality, dignity and democratic norms,” he alleged.
“The image of journalists being beaten up inside their newsroom is a chilling reminder of how fragile media freedom has become in India,” the Left leader said.
Kumar said the incident raises “serious concerns about the misuse of state power to intimidate and silence media.” Calling it a dangerous pattern, he said such “authoritarian overreach” must be condemned unequivocally and accountability must be fixed without delay.
Delhi Police on Friday sealed the office of UNI, citing a high court order.
The news agency termed the action an “attack on press freedom” and also alleged that police manhandled their female staff members.
However, Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Sachin Sharma told PTI that legal process was followed and no wrongdoings took place, as everything was videographed. PTI AO RUK RUK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.