103 of 194 scribes target of hostile action by state actors: Delhi-based group

State actors are the prime source of hostile actions against journalists including arrests in 2022, a Delhi-based think-tank has found. Seven journalists were killed by non-state political actors and criminals. One journalist Subash Kumar Mahto was killed for his reporting while the rest were killed for personal enmities, road rage etc.

In a study released on June 27, the Rights and Risk Analysis Group (RRAG) states that of the 194 journalists who faced police action or assault or threats last year, 103 were targeted by State actors and 91 by non-State actors, including political activists. The statistics have been collated from news reports.

Earlier in 2020, the State and non-State actors clocked equal figures for targeting scribes, the same think-tank had found. During the Covid-19 pandemic, as many as 226 instances of hostile action against journalists were reported. Out of these, non-State actors accounted for 114 instances and the State-actors snapped at the frontrunners’ heels by targeting 112 journalists. Last year, 2022, eight journalists died — one was killed for his work and another in a terrorist attack.

The study of the Rights and Risks Analysis Group (RRAG) that appears confined to information only from news reports, also said that among the States/Union Territories (UTs), the journalists from Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) faced the maximum target with 48; followed by Telangana (40); Odisha (14); Uttar Pradesh (13); Delhi (12); West Bengal (11); Madhya Pradesh and Manipur (6 each); Assam and Maharashtra (5 each); Bihar, Karnataka and Punjab (4 each); Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Meghalaya (3 each); Arunachal Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (2); and Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, Puducherry, Rajasthan, Tripura and Uttarakhand (1 each).

According to the press release issued of the 103 journalists (targeted by State actors in 2022), 70 were arrested/detained; FIRs were registered against 14; four were summoned by police and the Enforcement Directorate (ED); and 15 were allegedly physically attacked, threatened and harassed by public officials/police.

“Telangana reported the highest arrest/detention with 40, followed by Uttar Pradesh (6) and Jammu and Kashmir (4),” the statement said.

The FIRs against the 14 journalists were lodged under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including Sections 124-A (sedition), punishment for defamation (Section 500), 295A (acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups); Section 66-C, Section 67 and Section 69 of the Information Technology Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

In 2022, at least four journalists were summoned for questioning — three by police, and Sucheta Dalal of Maharashtra by the Enforcement Directorate in New Delhi…. At least 15 journalists were allegedly physically attacked, molested, threatened and harassed by public officials, including police across the country.”

“At least three journalists, i.e. Aakash Hussain, Sanna Irshad Mattoo and Rana Ayyub, were stopped by immigration officials from flying abroad.”

The statement also said: “One journalist, Subash Kumar Mahto, was killed for his reporting (against mafia groups in Bihar) while the rest were killed for personal enmities, road rage, etc…. A journalist identified as Rohit Biswal, a reporter of the daily Dharitri, was killed in an IED blast triggered by alleged Maoists while performing his official work on February 5.”

“Telangana reported the highest arrest/detention with 40; followed by Uttar Pradesh (6); Jammu and Kashmir (4); Madhya Pradesh (3), Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Manipur and Odisha (2 each); and Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu, Uttarakhand and West Bengal (1 each). First information reports (FIRs) were registered against 14 journalists under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including Sections 124-A (sedition) punishment for defamation (Section 500), 295A (acts intended to outrage religious feelings), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups); Section 66-C, Section 67 and Section 69 of the Information Technology Act and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.”- Stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Director of the RAAG.

In 2022, at least 15 journalists were allegedly physically attacked, molested, threatened and harassed by public officials including police across the country. Odisha reported the highest number of cases with four journalists being beaten by police.

At least three journalists i.e. Aakash Hussain, Sanna Irshad Mattoo and Rana Ayyub were stopped by the Immigration officials from flying abroad.

During 2022, out of the 91 journalists attacked by the non-State political actors and criminals across the country, the maximum attacks on journalists were reported from Odisha (5) and Uttar Pradesh (5).

About 41 journalists were targeted by the armed opposition groups in Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur and the Naxal affected areas. One journalist identified as Rohit Biswal, a reporter of a daily Dharitri, who was killed in an IED blast triggered by alleged Maoists while performing his official work on 5 February.

The list of 194 journalists targeted during 2022 is given in the Table below:

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