Imphal, October 23: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of recent attacks on journalists in Kerala, Manipur, and Tripura, prompting the apex human rights body to seek detailed reports from the Directors General of Police of the three states within two weeks.
The incidents reportedly took place on August 30 in Kerala and Manipur, and on September 21 in Tripura. In Tripura, a journalist attending a clothes distribution programme in Hezamara, West Tripura, was assaulted by a group of miscreants armed with sticks and sharp weapons, and his motorcycle was stolen.
In Manipur, a journalist covering a flower festival in Laii village, Senapati district, was attacked and shot twice with an air gun, sustaining severe injuries. In Kerala, another journalist was assaulted near Mangattukavala in Thodupuzha while returning from a wedding function. All three victims were hospitalised, and FIRs have been registered by the respective police departments.
Established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, the NHRC is an autonomous statutory body tasked with protecting and promoting human rights in India. It has the authority to take suo motu action based on media reports, public knowledge, or other sources, without requiring a formal complaint. The commission emphasised the need for a thorough investigation into these incidents to safeguard journalists’ rights to life, liberty, and dignity.
