Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 23: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of reports involving violent attacks on journalists in Kerala, Manipur, and Tripura, issuing notices to the Directors General of Police in each state. The Commission has demanded detailed action reports within two weeks.

The incidents, which occurred on August 30 in Kerala and Manipur, and on September 21 in Tripura, involve journalists being assaulted while on assignment or in public spaces, raising serious concerns over press freedom and safety.

In Tripura’s Hezamara area, a journalist attending a clothes distribution programme organised by a political party was attacked by a mob wielding sticks and sharp weapons. His motorcycle was stolen during the assault.

In Manipur, a journalist covering a flower festival in Laii village, Senapati district, was shot twice with an air gun, sustaining critical injuries.

In Kerala’s Thodupuzha region, a journalist was physically assaulted by a group while returning from a wedding function near Mangattukavala.

In all three cases, FIRs were filed, and the victims were hospitalised for treatment.

The NHRC, established under the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, has the power to act on its own motion (suo motu) in cases of human rights violations, including those flagged through media reports. The Commission has described these incidents as a serious threat to the fundamental right to freedom of expression, which includes the right of journalists to report freely and safely.

An NHRC official stated that the Commission is treating these matters with urgency, considering the increasing risks faced by media professionals across the country.