At least six intelligencers were killed, another 108 attacked while 13 media houses were targeted in India in 2021 while the limelight on the denial of media freedom continued to be on enthralled Jammu and Kashmir where intelligencers frequently plant themselves summoned to police stations, FIRs registered against them, their houses raided, being manhandled and beaten by security forces, according to a new report.
The India Press Freedom Report 2021
by the Rights and Pitfalls Analysis Group (RRAG) said that enthralled Kashmir and Indian countries, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Tripura outgunned the list of areas across the country where intelligencers and media houses were targeted last time.
Of the six intelligencers killed, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar reported two deaths each, while Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra reported the death of one intelligencer each. Eight womanish intelligencers faced arrest, process and enrollment of First Information Reports (FIRs).
“ The loftiest number of intelligencers/ media organisations targeted was in ( enthralled) Jammu and Kashmir (25), followed by Uttar Pradesh (23); Madhya Pradesh (16); Tripura (15); Delhi (eight); Bihar (six); Assam (five); Haryana and Maharashtra (four each); Goa and Manipur (three each); Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal (two each); and Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Kerala (one each),” read the report.
“ The wide attacks on press freedom from Jammu and Kashmir ( J&K) to Tripura are an index of the continuing deterioration of communal space in the country,” stated RRAG Director Suhas Chakma.
In 2021, at least 24 intelligencers were physically attacked, hovered, wearied, and dammed from doing their work by public officers, including police, across the country, according to the report. Out of the 24 intelligencers, 17 were beaten by police.
Physical attacks on intelligencers by police were substantially reported from enthralled Jammu and Kashmir. During the last time, FIRs against 44 intelligencers were registered, including in some cases, multiple FIRs against the same intelligencers in several countries.
Uttar Pradesh reported the loftiest enrollment of FIRs with nine; followed by six each in Delhi and Jammu and Kashmir, and three in Bihar among others. Out of the 44 intelligencers, FIRs were filed against 21 intelligencers under Section 153 of the Indian Penal Code relating to promoting hostility.
