Shillong Press Club condemns manhandling of senior journalist

SHILLONG:

The Shillong Press Club (SPC) has condemned the alleged manhandling of a senior journalist, EM Jose, by unknown miscreants at Barik when he was covering a sit-in protest demonstration organised by three organisations under the umbrella of Voice of Mawlai People, on Monday.

Expressing displeasure over the unfortunate incident, SPC issued a statement terming it as “an unwelcome move that the club treats with utmost seriousness”.

It was only after intervention by leaders of the three protesting organisations and subsequent conversations that the matter got resolved, the SPC stated, adding that the culprits will be identified and dealt with appropriately.

The members of the protesting organisations too have condemned the incident and rendered apology to the senior journalist.

Speaking to The Northeast Today (TNT), Jose said that it was an unfortunate incident that should not have happened. "I was covering the event when someone just shoved me from behind. I am however, satisfied that the organisations promptly apologised for the incident. I just hope such things do not recur,” he said.

SPC also welcomed the prompt response of the organisers who publicly condemned this intimidating stunt of the miscreants with the senior journalist at the protest venue.

“It is time that such foolhardy mischief is nipped in the bud and henceforth SPC will find it enormously hard to accept apologies or ignorance if such acts of intimidation and obstruction of duty continue. We will continue to serve the best interests of our state and urge all stakeholders to work together and thwart off any attempt to disrupt the little peace and harmony left for us to cherish,” a statement from the SPC read.

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