Two Tamil Nadu journalists have been booked for interviewing Sri Lankan refugees and writing a news story on their perspective on the CAA-NRC issue.
A reporter and a photojournalist from the Vikatan Group were booked under Indian Penal Code sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 447 (criminal trespass) and 505-1b (publishing material with an intent to cause fear or alarm).
The FIR claims the duo entered a refugee camp and “instigated the refugees to conduct a revolution against CAA”.
But the Nagercoil press club said the two journalists spoke to the refugees only for the story and had no other intentions. It asked that the case against them be withdrawn.
The journalists have been booked under non-bailable charges, and the police are trying to track them down.
In Tamil Nadu, the issue of Sri Lankan Tamil refugees is part of the ongoing debate on the Citizenship Amendment Act — the law only covers illegal immigrants (belonging to six non-Muslim minority religious groups) from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.
Several opposition parties have demanded that Sri Lankan Tamils be included in the purview of the legislation.
‘WITHDRAW CASE’
“Attacks like these on the press in a democracy must be strongly condemned,” DMK MP Kanimozhi said, referring to the FIR against the Vikatan journalists.
“I ask that the cases on the media persons be withdrawn immediately.”
Kamal Haasan’s Makkal Needi Maiam party, too, has condemned the state government’s action and said the non-bailable charges must be withdrawn.
As well, some journalists have met the state police chief and asked that the case against their colleagues be revoked.
