Mizoram journalists 'assault' case: NHRC notice to police chiefs of Assam, Mizoram

The NHRC has issued notices to the police chiefs of Assam and Mizoram over alleged physical assault and lathi charge on journalists in the Kolasib district of Mizoram while they were on a reporting assignment.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) sought responses from the officers within four weeks.

"The NHRC has issued a notice to the Directors Generals of Police of Assam and Mizoram calling for a detailed report on the alleged physical assault and lathi charge on journalists by the Assam Police in Zophai Bairabi area in Kolasib district of Mizoram near Assam border, while they were on a reporting assignment on March 8 2018 and 10," the rights panel said in a statement today.

Allegedly, the victim journalists had gone to Zophai to prepare a ground report as there was tension between the Mizo Zirlai Pawl, a student organization of Mizoram, and the Assam police, which escalated due to lathi charge by the men in uniform on the scribes, the NHRC said.

"The police also fired gun shots during the action," it added, citing the complaint.

Many journalists, including women, allegedly sustained serious injuries in the incident.