Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 29: The media persons staged protest against the Jammu and Kashmir Inspector General of Police (IGP) Traffic J&K Basant Rath, a day after he slapped a video-journalist and snatched his cell phone.
Carrying placards, the media persons this morning marched from outside the Press Club of Jammu to Maharaja Hari Singh statue on Tawi Bridge.
The march was led by the Press Club of Jammu President Ashwani Kumar and was joined by Secretary General Zorawar Singh Jamwal besides senior and veteran journalists from both print media and electronic channels.
A cameraman namely Bunty Digra of ‘Channel 1’ news channel had alleged that he was speaking on his cellphone after parking his two-wheeler along the roadside near Asia Crossing when Rath, passing by in civvies, intercepted him and snatched his cellphone and took off the keys of his scooty.
“I was about to make him a request but he turned and slapped me in full public view”, alleged the complainant.
Senior journalist and President Press Club of Jammu Ashwani Kumar appealed to the Governor Satya Pal Malik to intervene and initiate action against the officer, who despite being law abiding himself throw rules to wind.
Manu Srivatsa, veteran journalist and Former President Press Club of Jammu said, “Being in civvies, snatching someone’s mobile phone and slapping a person is a criminal act and there is a set procedure to book officer for his action.
Secretary General Press Club of Jammu Zorawar Singh Jamwal said that it is not a slap on the face of the journalist fraternity and Government should intervene and take an action at the earliest.
Group Editor ‘Channel 1’ Surinder Kumar demanded that action should be initiated against the officer for his rude behaviour.
Meanwhile, members of Media-XI Cricket Club Jammu condemned the misconduct IGP Basant Rath and asked him to tender apology. They warned the IGP of dire consequences if such things happen again in future.
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