Attacks – Journalists

The Network of Women in Media (NWMI) unequivocally condemns the physical attack by Assam police personnel on journalists on the Assam-Mizoram border at Hailakandi on March 10, in which two women and three male journalists were gravely injured.

According to News18’s Emmy C Lawbei, who was injured in the incident, the police started raining blows on them when a heated exchange took place at the spot where protesters had gathered. She remembers that the police did not stop even when they were informed that Emmy and others present were journalists.

“I screamed and said I’m a journalist, but they keep beating us. I felt a sharp pain on my butt, back and my arms. Police also opened fire and I was so scared, I started running back towards the car,” Emmy is reported as saying that she saw another woman colleague running towards the car and she followed her. “Police kept chasing, screaming and beating us. No matter how many times I shouted ‘I’m a journalist’, they turned a deaf ear. I also saw another reporter getting hit on his head, he lost his glasses and ran towards safe area. Another reporter from Kolasib also got injured,” says Emmy.