JALANDHAR: Journalists of Punjab last week staged a massive demonstration breaking the police cordon in front of the Deputy Commissioners office to protest the police raid on the premises of the Jalandhar based Panjabi newspaper Aj-Di-Awaz and to demand release of its Managing Editor Mr. Gurdeep Singh and Mr. Malkiat Singh telephone operator who have been in illegal custody for the past 11 days.

Journalists broke through the police barricade at the Punjab Nation! Bank Chowk to hold a dharma. Earlier a procession of journalists led by Mr. Barjinder Singh Chief Edi tor of Ajit marched from the newspapers office raising slogans to the Deputy Commissioners office. The police also tried to stop the procession at Shastri Chowk but failed. As the procession reached the PNB Chowk the journalists broke the police cordon. Policemen on duty used there sticks to prevent the journalists from marching to the Deputy Commissioners office Mr. Madan Lal Bharadwaj correspondent of Ajit was injured on the forehead. The spectacles   Mr .S.K. Tangri Panjabi tribune correspondent at Phagwara was broken when he was pushed by Mr Madan Mohan Singh SP. The journalists tried to force their way ensuing a suffice Mr. Tejinder Singh Kohli General Secretary of Panjabi Journalists Union sustained injuries in the melee however the journal its managed to reach the Deputy Commissioners office but they were not allowed entry. Thereupon they sat on the road to hold dharna.

Earlier the police swung into action at the office of Aj-Di-Awaz in the morning uprooting the shamiana pitched outside. They also took away public address system. No one was allowed to enter the office Mr.Malvinder Singh Mali News Editor of Aj Di Awaz and four other journalists who were coming to the office were arrested The journalists demanded immediate release of those arrested. A resolution was passed at the dhama to boycott government functions if the two detained persons were not freed. Addressing the rally the Ajit Chief Editor said that the government was using the police force to throttle the voice of the press in general and the Panjabi press in particular. Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra Chief of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee said that by raiding the office of the newspaper the Beant Singh government had exposed its weakness. He viewed that the press should boycott the Punjab government for its anti-press policy.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 28, 1994