Srinagar: Kashmir press photographers association condemns the brutal and the murderous assault on photojournalists by security forces today in Shirmal area of Shopian.
In a statement issued here, KPPA said that in the wee hours today, an encounter broke out between militants and security forces in south Kashmir’s Shopian district, as per the normal routine, in order to carry out their professional duties, the photo journalists visited the encounter spot, but they were showered with metal ball pellets from a close range, thus attempting a direct aim at taking their lives.
Four photojournalists were hit by pellets fired by the forces including Waseem Andrabi a senior photojournalist working with Hindustan Times newspaper. He was hit by pellets in his face.
KPPA believes that the oft-repeated assualt on the photojournalists is uncalled for and employing such tactics by the government forces won’t deter us from carrying out our professional duties.
The associaiton urges the Governor Satya Pal Malik and Director General of Police Dilbag Singh to perosnally look into the matter and order a magesterial enquiry into the incident followed by strict action against the erring cops.