Bahuguna, a journalist associated with Nav Bharat Times, Dinman, Hindustan Hindi, Outlook and other national dailies and periodicals was attacked after receiving threatening messages from unknown numbers. Bahuguna is known for criticising Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janat Party and suspects Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh is the mastermind behind the attack. The attack left Bahuguna’s face bruised and swollen.
In Uttar Pradesh, BBC correspondent Dilnawaz Pasha was abused by police after going into the police station to gather information for a report. As soon as he asked questions, police confiscated his phone, detained him for six hours and allegedly mistreated him during his detention. Once Pasha was able to show his identity card, police ‘sought forgiveness’ and the administration contacted Pasha to follow-up the incident. Pasha chose not to file a complaint against the policemen.
The IJU secretary general Sabina Inderjit said: “The IJU fears that increasing attacks on media freedom and media rights in the country may endanger democracy and freedom of expression and press.”
The NUJ-I president Ras Bihari said: “NUJ(India) will send its fact finding committee to Uttrakhand to know details of the attack to Rajiv Nayan Bahuguna. NUJ-I demands a high level judicial inquiry in the attack.”
The IFJ said: “The IFJ calls on the Indian government to launch an investigation into the attack on Rajiv Nayan Bahuguna and ensure police act in a responsible manner that prioritises the rights of citizens and journalists.”