The MHA will draft a SOP for the safety and protection of journalists in the wake of Atiq Ahmed’s and his brother’s assassination by three assailants who masqueraded as TV news journalists in Prayag, Uttar Pradesh, on April 15.
Atiq Ahmed, a well-known mafia don and political aspirant, was shot dead in Prayag on April 15 while he was being accompanied by around a dozen police officials for a routine check-up. Atiq Ahmed’s brother, also a well-known mobster, was shot dead by assailants claiming to be TV news journalists.
The brother, Abdul Azim Ahmed, alias Ashraf, was traveling with his father and brother when Atiq Ahmed was shot dead.
On Sunday, a senior government official revealed that a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) was being developed to ensure the safety of journalists who are accompanying or interviewing an accused in police or court custody. The official said that the decision to develop the SOP had been taken in response to the instructions of the Prime Minister.
In the incident, the three accused were identified by their identity cards and had a microphone and camera in their possession. One of them was reported to have fired a single shot at the temple of Atiq Ahmed while he was addressing media personnel. The incident was captured on television cameras and was reported by the police. The FIR stated that the assailants had thrown the microphone and camera and had opened fire with semiautomatic weapons while the duo were addressing reporters. According to the FIR, one person was injured in the cross-fire and some media personnel were injured.
SOURCE:- THE HINDU
