Kolkata, July 27 -- Hundreds of journalists from the print, electronic and digital media on Monday organised a protest rally in Kolkata against the alleged assault on media personnel during the July 24 NEET protest, in which several journalists were injured while covering the demonstration.

The rally began from the Press Club and culminated at Rani Rashmoni Avenue, with reporters, photojournalists, video journalists and digital content creators from Kolkata and several districts participating. The protesters also formed a human chain, demanding adequate protection for media personnel while discharging their professional responsibilities.

Meanwhile, police have arrested 16 people in connection with the violence during the July 24 protest against the alleged NEET paper leak. On Monday, five of the arrested accused were taken to Dorina Crossing in Esplanade for reconstruction of the sequence of events as part of the ongoing investigation.

The journalists injured in the violence also visited Lok Bhawan and met officials, seeking intervention over the attack. Governor R.N. Ravi was not present at the time. Later, a delegation of journalists submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari in Jalpaiguri, urging the government to introduce concrete measures to ensure the safety and security of media personnel while covering political rallies and public events.

Responding to the delegation, Adhikari termed the attacks on journalists "unacceptable" and said that, unlike previous governments where such complaints allegedly remained limited to General Diary entries, the present government had registered FIRs and arrested 16 accused under non-bailable sections. He also recalled visiting injured journalists in hospitals on earlier occasions.

In their memorandum, the journalists appreciated the government's prompt response but expressed concern over the growing threat to media professionals, particularly women journalists, while covering political events. They emphasised that freedom of the press, protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, includes the right to gather and disseminate information without fear or intimidation. WITH AGENCY INPUTS

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.