Journalists

Rajasthan

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on July 19, 2019 regarding intimidation and threats issued to the local journalists by sand mafia in Rajasthan.

On July 05, 2019 journalists and human rights defenders from various local media organizations of Rajasthan received information that a dumper truck is stuck on the Ramgarh road in Mangrole sub division of Baran district of Rajasthan. These trucks are often used by the sand mafia in the region to carry sand extracted illegally. Local journalists including Mr. Surendra Chaurasha of Hindi daily Dainik Bhaskar, Mr. Surender Rathore of Dainik Navjyoti, Mr. Om Prakesh Sharma of Chambal Sandesh and Mr. Kuldeep Singh Solanki of Bureau newspaper reached the spot to report this matter. At that time, the truck filled with sand was being offloaded. When the journalists started taking photographs for their news coverage, two persons threatened the journalists. They also said that their news coverage would not do any harm to them as they have political influence. Realizing the gravity of situation, all journalists had to stop their work and left the place fearing for their safety.

HRDA has prayed for immediate and impartial investigation into the above mentioned incident.