IJU condemns attacks on journalists covering student protests, seeks probe
The Indian Journalists Union has condemned physical attacks on reporters covering student protests at Jantar Mantar. The union criticized both security forces and protesters for targeting media personnel, calling the incidents a direct assault on press freedom.
Why it matters
The safety of journalists during civil unrest is a critical issue for democratic accountability and the freedom of the press.
The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) on Friday (July 24, 2026) strongly condemned the alleged physical attacks and intimidation of journalists covering the ongoing student protests at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and other parts of the country, describing the incidents as a serious assault on press freedom.
In a joint statement, IJU President Balwinder Singh Jammu and Secretary-General D. Soma Sundar said it was deplorable that media personnel performing their professional duties had come under attack from both security forces and sections of the protesters.
The union also criticised the alleged use of force by security personnel, including shock batons and pellet guns, against students and journalists. It expressed concern over reports that several Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel and Delhi Police officers were deployed in civilian clothes without name badges, making it difficult to identify those involved in the incidents.
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