The Udupi District Working Journalists’ Association has strongly condemned the purported attack on Kannada Prabha reporter and association member Srikanth Hemmady and called for immediate action by the Udupi District Police in connection with the incident.
The alleged attack took place after a report on Kundapura Government Hospital and was allegedly done by Dr. Mahendra Shetty, a former Medical Officer of the Government Hospital, the association said. The complaint against the journalist is being taken seriously and if the allegations are true, the Udupi District Police should take the complaint seriously.
The news about the safety of journalists in the field has raised concerns about their safety. Reporters have to visit public institutions to talk to officials and gather information about things that affect citizens. In particular, hospitals and other government institutions can be the focus of news reports about administration, services and issues affecting citizens, the journalists’ associations have said repeatedly.
According to the Udupi District Working Journalists Association, Srikanth Hemmady was allegedly assaulted for the report about Kundapura Government Hospital. Dr. Mahendra Shetty, who served as Medical Officer at the hospital, is among the people involved, the association said.
The allegations are under investigation and any legal action may follow. The authorities need to investigate and a formal inquiry will help to establish what happened and find out who is responsible.
Subrahmanya G. Kurya of the District Working Journalists’ Association has asked the Udupi District Police to take this matter seriously. The association has been demanding tough action against the accused, saying in a letter to the police that any attack on a journalist should be investigated and not let the journalist go, it said.
The incident has also brought the issue of press freedom and journalist safety into focus. Journalists are vital to bringing information about public institutions and issues that affect communities to the feet of the public. For example, reports about government hospitals could help to highlight concerns about healthcare services, facilities and administration. At the same time, such reporting can sometimes lead to disagreements between journalists and those people or institutions that are mentioned in the news.
Disputes over published reports should be resolved in legal and professional channels, rather than in a conflict of words. If an individual believes a news report is wrong (or unfair) it is possible to dispute the report, try to correct it and go through the legal process. But any physical assault should be investigated by the police and the courts.
The response from the journalists’ association shows the solidarity of the media when one of its members is under attack. Professional associations can voice concern, assist affected journalists, and advocate for law enforcement. Organizations like that can also help keep members’ cases of wrongdoing on the front burner and that complaints are treated fairly.
For Udupi District Police, the first thing to do is to establish the factual background for the investigation. That would include examining the complaint to see if there is any allegation and gathering relevant evidence. Any legal action will follow the laws and the findings of any investigation. Due process is due process and allegations must not be treated as fact until legally proven by the accused.
So this incident is important for more than the individual involved because the context of journalists in the field is much larger. Journalists covering local issues often get to meet officials, medical personnel, business owners and people in the community. It is important for local journalism and the information flow to be safe.
The Udupi District Working Journalists’ Association’s condemnation has therefore placed renewed emphasis on journalist safety in the district. In terms of a legal case, the group is calling for serious action to be taken by police and they want a fair investigation in that case and law-abiding action to take place.
As of now, the assault is still an open matter for independent investigation. But the case has raised the alarm in the local media and the association has said that the safety and professional freedom of journalists is very high on their minds. Police investigation and any legal action will be taken on the matter.
