From Our Special Correspondent
New Delhi: Following a complaint that a photo journalist had been allegedly assaulted by a Meghalaya MLA, the Press Council of India (PCI) on Monday took a serious view and sought response from the State Assembly Speaker so that further action can be taken in this regard.
In a letter to Speaker Charles Pyngrope, the PCI chief Markandey Katju said he had received a complaint from Indian Journalist Union about an alleged assault on a photo journalist by a legislator in the hill state. “It is alleged that a photo journalist, Walton Lyttan , was attacked by MLA Founder Strong Cajee because he had taken a photograph of him in the Assembly.
As a result of this attack, the photographer had to be hospitalised in Shillong,” the PCI chief said.
Katju said if the complaint was true, it constituted a serious violation of the freedom of Press, which was guaranteed under Article 19 (1)(a) of the Constitution.
“Please give your response to this letter at the earliest so Press Council may take further action in the matter,” the letter stated.
On March 19, Lyttan was allegedly assaulted by the Congress MLA from Mawlai constituency Founder S Cajee in the Meghalaya Assembly premises after a photograph showing him taking a nap during the state Assembly session appeared in a couple of vernacular newspapers.
Cajee later apologised in the Assembly for assaulting news photographer.
In his statement, Cajee said the incident was unfortunate and added that he was sorry for what happened. “I feel sorry for what happened. It shall never happen again,” Cajee added.
