Media phones being tapped, alleges BJP

Lucknow, Mar 10 (UNI) The Opposition BJP today alleged that phones of mediapersons were being tapped by police in Meerut district of Uttar Pradesh.

The issue was raised in the zero hour by BJP's Lakshmikant Vajpayee in the state legislative assembly. ''It is an infringment on the rights of a free media in a democracy,'' he said.

Mr Vajpayee alleged that the Meerut police had tapped the phones of local crime reporters and at least three photo journalists of dailies on February 17. He claimed that during the kidnapping of one Rahul Jain, the city police had even tapped the phones of Special Task Force (STF) of the state police.

Terming it a serious matter, state Parliamentary Affairs minister Md Azam Khan promised probe and said privacy of an individual must be preserved.

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