Withdraw case against senior journalist: DUJ

New Delhi, May 16 (UNI) Terming it as a severe attack on freedom of press, Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) said senior journalist, poet and writer, Dr Mehruddin Khan had been implicated in a false case by Kandhala police in district Muzaffarnagar of Uttar Pradesh which should be immediately withdrawn.

DUJ President Mr S K Pande said Dr Khan had to spend almost a month in jail because of the vendetta of the local police till the court came to his rescue and granted him bail.

Dr Khan had incurred the wrath of the local police by filing a report not palatable to the authorities. He was deprived of his personal liberty being in detention from April 6 to May 3, 2008 along with criminals allegedly for his writings.

As the learned Sessions judge noted in his order granting Bail to Dr Khan that he was not even named in the First Information Report (FIR), it was demanded that stringent action be taken against the police officers concerned and harassment of his relatives and friends be ended.

The DUJ also called upon the Press Council of India and the National Human Rights Commission to initiate suo motu action in the matter. It also called upon the Mayawati Government to look into the matter and has informed national and international news organizations about the issues involved.

Meanwhile, the DUJ has began its own investigations into the matter and all connected issues.

UNI JSS AKJ DS1530