Protest against threats to journalists: Udaipur press club submits deputation to SP, memorandum addressed to CM

Allegations of fresh attacks on the fourth pillar of democracy and insults to the personal dignity of journalists have triggered widespread outrage in Udaipur. Journalists under the banner of the Udaipur Press Club staged a strong protest condemning defamatory remarks, circulation of morphed images, and alleged death threats issued against two senior media professionals of the state.

The controversy erupted following alleged objectionable comments and the spread of distorted images targeting the senior editor of Aajker Fariad  newspaper, Sanit Debroy and the editor of Headline Tripura, Pranab Sarkar. The threats, reportedly accompanied by a “red mark” symbol, have intensified tensions across Gomati district headquarters.

On Friday afternoon, the Udaipur Press Club organized a press conference at the press club premises, demanding immediate arrest and exemplary punishment for those involved in the incident. The members insisted that individuals associated with such acts must be removed from their positions and face strict legal action.

The organization stated that such actions clearly trample upon democratic values, freedom of expression, and the constitutional rights of the press.

Members present at the press conference unanimously condemned the incident and demanded the immediate arrest and removal of the accused MLAs, Ramprasad Paul and Ranjit Debbarma. They asserted that the media is the fourth pillar of democracy, and any attack on it is not merely a personal vendetta but a calculated assault on the very foundation of democratic governance. They emphasized that ensuring the safety of journalists and providing an environment where they can work independently is both a constitutional and moral responsibility of the government. Any negligence or silence in fulfilling this duty, they said, would be unacceptable.

Following the press conference, a delegation from the Press Club submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister to the Superintendent of Police of Gomati district. The delegation included Press Club President Debabrata Rudra, Secretary Jasim Uddin, Treasurer Nuton Das, and senior journalists Bhaskar Modak, Apuram Sarkar, Ayub Sarkar, Shyamsundar Dutta, Sukanta Laskar, Amitabh Das, Dip Goswami, Bittu Majumdar, Abhijit Saha, Rupak Das, Arif Rahman, Simon Khan, among others.

The Udaipur Press Club clearly stated that if appropriate and visible action is not taken by the government within the next few days, the journalist community will be compelled to launch a broader democratic movement. Issuing a stern warning, the Press Club declared that no compromise will be made on the issue of press freedom and that their agitation will continue until justice and security are ensured.