The highest number of attacks on mediapersons - 63 - has been recorded in Uttar Pradesh in the year 2014, Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir informed the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.
In response to questions by MPs Santosh Kumar and C.R. Patil seeking details of attacks on mediapersons in the last three years, the junior Home Minister gave state-wise data for the year 2014.
The highest number of attacks (a total of 63) was recorded in Uttar Pradesh, followed by Bihar (22). The number of persons arrested in connection with these cases is just four and three respectively in the two states.
"National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) has started collecting data on attack on mediapersons under grievous hurt since 2014. Data on attack on journalists is not maintained separately," Ahir said in his reply.
In Madhya Pradesh the number of attacks was seven, and the number of arrests 10. No attack on mediapersons was recorded in any of the seven Union Territories.
On the query if the government was mulling any legislation for giving protection to journalists "from harassment and attacks by unscrupulous elements", Ahir said that police and public order are state subjects and therefore, state governments were responsible for "prevention, detection, and investigation of crime".
--IANS
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