Journalists' arrests in Chhattisgarh: panel to seek report from police

Raipur: Amid controversy over arrest of journalists in Chhattisgarh's Naxal-affected Bastar region, a high-level government committee constituted to protect the rights of scribes on Monday decided to call for a report from the police.

"Detailed report of cases related to (journalists) Prabhat Singh, Deepak Jaiswal, Somaru Nag and Santosh Yadav will be sought from the Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) and concerned Superintendents of Police and will be discussed during the next meeting on April 6," Rajesh Sukumar Toppo, director, Chhattisgarh public relations department, told PTI.

The committee comprises general administration department secretary Vikassheel, Toppo himself, secretary of home department Arundev Gautam, CID ADG Rajeev Srivastava and senior journalists Ruchir Garg and Manikuntala Bose.

The committee also discussed "definition" of journalist, in view of Bastar police's claim that those arrested weren't listed as media persons in the record of public relation office, and were engaged in other business activities.

Prabhat Singh was arrested on March 22 this year under the Information Technology Act for posting objectionable content on a WhatsApp group and in three other cases, while Jaiswal was held on March 26 on a complaint for allegedly entering a school premises without permission during an exam and manhandling the staff. Both are based in Dantewada district.