Three hoodlums attack journalist Hem Bhatt at Haridwar Bypass Road
Three hoodlums in Dehradun, Haridwar Road today attacked a journalist Hem Bhatt while he was travelling on his bike. Mr. Bhatt has been admitted in the hospital.
The injured journalist has sent a written complaint to the Inspector Incharge of Dalanwala police station , Dehradun describing the entire incident regarding the attack on him injuring him on his face and under the nose.
According to the complaint lodged the injured journalist said that when he was proceeding towards his house on Haridwar bypass road at around 5.45 PM all of a sudden three unknown asailants overtook my bike at MKP crossing and surrounded me. All the three asailants were on Scooty.
They threatened me with dire consequences after physically attacking me further threatening that you are showing lot of news and it the news telecast is not controlled/ curtained we will meet again and kill you. After some people collected there seeing the attack the hoodlums ran away hurriedly threatening me using abuses.
The news went viral in social media and several journalists came in support of journalist Hem Bhatt demanding immediate arrest of the culprits bringing them to due justice. While strongly condemning this attack they said :
This attack on journalist colleague Hem Bhatt is not just an attack on an individual, it is an attack on the freedom of the press!
This is a direct demand from Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami and the Uttarakhand Police…
The attackers should be immediately identified and arrested,Fast action should be taken using CCTV, call details, and route tracking, A solid mechanism should be established for the safety of journalists – not just statements.
Today it’s Hem Bhatt, tomorrow it could be someone else.
Those who believe that democracy will be silenced if those who ask questions are intimidated, beware… Attacks on democracy and journalists will not be tolerated under any circumstances said Awdhesh Nautiyal.
