Citing "manifold" rise in attacks on scribes in recent times, a journalists' body today demanded the central government come out with a law to ensure their security, particularly of those working in Maoist- and terrorism-hit areas.
In a letter to Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, the Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) requested him to bring a 'Risk Insurance Scheme' of not less than Rs 1 crore for scribes so that their families do not suffer economically if "something wrong" happens to them.
"Of late, the attacks on journalists across the country have increased manifold. This year itself, many journalists have lost their lives and scores of them have been attacked by goons, mafia dons and anti-social elements... Such instances are not confined only to a few regions but they have actually become all pervasive.
"That is why, there is an urgent need to have a law which could instill fear among goondas and anti-social elements and at the same time help provide an atmosphere of fearlessness for journalists for performing their duty honestly," IFWJ said.
IFWJ also referred to the May 13 murder of Rajdeo Ranjan, a journalist from Bihar's Siwan, and claimed he was killed because he published a photograph of a politician who would regularly visit a jailed mafia don-cum-politician.
In the letter, IFWJ president Umesh Kumar, vice president Hemant Tiwari, secretary general Hemant Tiwari and treasurer Rinku Yadav demanded the government ensure action against goons and anti-social elements.
Before registering any case against journalists, the government must conduct an independent inquiry to ensure they are not implicated under false charges, it said.
"In case of death of a journalist, immediate relief should be given to him/her by the state or the organisation where he or she has been working and the dependents of such journalists should be properly taken care of, particularly in respect of their education and marriage, etc," it said.
