NEW DELHI: Chandigarh Press Club condemns the brutal police action against freelance journalist Mandeep Punia and Dharmender Singh (with Online News India), who were picked up by Delhi Police on January 30 evening from Singhu Border farmers protest site.
While Dharmender Singh was later released, Mandeep still remains in police custody. Mandeep Punia is a freelance journalist who contributes to The Caravan and Junputh. The Delhi Police used brutal force while picking up Mandeep and did not share his whereabouts to other media colleague entire night.
The copy of the FIR against Mandeep was issued only this morning. Four IPC sections — 186, 353, 332, 34 — have been pressed against him. Mandeep has been reporting on the present farmers’ agitation right from the beginning and his arrest is part of the government crackdown on journalists to prevent them from doing their job independently and freely.
The Chandigarh Press Club demands that Mandeep should be freed immediately.Indian Women’s Press Corps, Press Club of India and various journalists associations have also condemned the police action.
