23 December 2012
Indian journalist shot dead in a protest
Crossfire
Police shot dead a television journalist on Sunday when they opened fire during a protest against a sexual assault on a film actress in India's northeast, an official said.
The 36-year-old, Dwijamani Singh was working for Prime Time News Channel and also contributing to the Doordarshan network, was "killed in police firing" in Imphal, capital of Manipur state, police spokesman A.
Singh told AFP. The Prime Time news website reported: “Singh was killed at Thangmeiband area near Imphal West after angry protestors torched a police vehicle and obstructed the plying of public and security vehicles. He was hit by a bullet on his chest. Hundreds of journalists gathered at the Regional Institute of Medical Science and Hospital after Singh was brought for treatment. But he was declared dead. The body was later taken to the Manipur press club.
Nation wide protests in India
The shooting comes amid a wave of protests in India over a student's gang-rape in New Delhi last weekend. Manipur has been rocked by its own series of protests after the actress known as Momoko was dragged from stage in full public view last week by an armed militant belonging to a banned rebel outfit despite the presence of security personnel. He then tried to rape her but she managed to fight him off and flee. Momoko, also a popular model, has waived her right to anonymity and appealed on television for her attacker's arrest. Anger over the attack on Momoko has been further fuelled by the outrage over the gang-rape in Delhi which has highlighted the levels of violence against women in India.
On Saturday, crowds had pelted stones at police in Imphal, damaging six of their vehicles, prompting authorities to impose a curfew in parts of the state. The curfew was relaxed Sunday, after which a huge crowd of protestors assembled and confronted police who opened fire in retaliation, Singh said. The journalist died on the spot from one of the bullets, Singh said. Five police officers have been suspended in relation to the journalistÂ’s killing and an enquiry committee has been set up to look into the events that took place on Sunday.
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Source: Doha Centre for Media Freedom / AFP and agencies
