Journalists urge PCI to oversee media security in NE

Agartala, Nov 23 (UNI) The Press Club today demanded to constitute a high-level committee, headed by the Chairman of Press Council of India (PCI), to oversee the safety and security of mediapersons working in the northeastern region.

In a statement issued here, Agartala Press Club secretary Pranab Sarkar said the working journalists were facing security threats because of reluctant attitude of the state governments to protect the mediapersons.

''Particularly, the outlawed outfits of the region have made the media a soft target and are forcing journalists to publicise their activities. Two journalists were killed within a week in the region by the militants,'' the statement added.

Terming the killing as indicative of the growing lawlessness in the region, Mr Sarkar said the government had failed to protect the lives and property of the media community.

The statement came following killings of Jagjit Saikia, a reporter of Assamese daily 'Amar Asom' by unidentified assailants in Kokrajhar yesterday, and Konsam Rishikanta, a journalist of Manipur last week.

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