May begins with workers’ day followed closely by Press Freedom Day, but working journalists are anything but secure in the hinterland in India. On May 10, journalists of Chhatisgarh will be protesting in Delhi against the State sponsored intimidation and violence against them.

Chhattisgarh continues to be one of the most dangerous places for journalists and human rights defenders in India. On May 3, World Press Freedom day, Amnesty International India demanded that the Raman Singh government  release four journalists, arrested for writing critically about  the state government.

In March 2016, The Editors Guild Of India fact-finding committee said that they could not find a single journalist who could claim with confidence that he/she was working without fear or pressure in state.

Four journalists Santosh Yadav, Somaru Nag, Prabhat Singh and Deepak Jaiswal, all working out of Bastar region, have been under arrest since July 2015. Another journalist Malini Subramaniam, who has extensively reported on human rights violations in Chhatisgarh, was forced to leave Bastar in February 2016 following attacks on her home and police harassment of  her landlord, it is learnt.

Patrakar Suraksha Kanoon Sanyukt Sangharsh Samiti, an organization formed by journalists in Bastar, will be protesting in New Delhi on May 10. “Journalism is not a crime and every journalist has the right to question government based on facts. There is a complete crackdown on journalists, which has led to the stifling of democracy in the region. The state must respect Constitution and release all journalists who were arrested for doing their work,” said Tara Rao, programme director at Amnesty.

Violations by state have been accompanied by intimidation by those acting on its behalf.

Local self-styled vigilante groups which appear to have the backing of state police, have intimidated and harassed journalists and activists who express dissenting views. “State police continue to use abusive laws like the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act to stifle the right to freedom of expression,” said Rao.

Chhattisgarh government’s open contempt for constitutionally guaranteed rights and freedoms needs to end now, she added.

  Chhatisgarh, Media, naked truth, press release, violence