Assam Photo Journalist Association (APJA) today condemned the lathicharge by police on photojournalists while covering a protest at Dispur.
Four photojournalists were injured in the police lathicharge, according to an APJA release that identified them as Biju Boro, Reba Bora, Dibbo Jyoti Das Rava and Banajit Bhuyan.
Police resorted to lathicharge on the agitating Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) activists and photojournalists covering the event were injured, the release said.
The release claimed that the photographers on duty had warned the police not to attack them and allow them to carry on with their duty.
Police today resorted to a lathicharge and took recourse to teargas shells and water cannons to prevent KMSS protestors, led by RTI activist Akhil Gogoi, from assembling in support of the demand for the granting of land rights to indigenous people residing in the hills.
The police claimed that the protestors had been denied permission four days ago to hold a demonstration at Dispur as the secretariat complex and many hospitals, schools and other commercial establishments are located in the area.
