Attacks – Journalists

Following the assault on a group of journalists at SMHS Hospital Srinagar on Wednesday, Press Club of Kashmir on Thursday condemned the incident and demanded strict action against the doctors involved.Speaking with reporters in Srinagar, M. Saleem Pandit, President of Press Club of Kashmir, said that the incident at SMHS Hospital—where a group of journalists were assaulted and heckled on Wednesday- was an attack on the entire journalistic fraternity.“We condemn the assault in the strongest possible terms. There should be an inquiry into whether the attackers were acting independently or were instigated by someone. It was an attack on the journalists’ dignity,” he said.Pandit said that the Principal of Government Medical College Srinagar should investigate why such an incident occurred at SMHS Hospital involving the doctors.“Had there been no police personnel or patient attendants present, the situation could have escalated into more assaults and violence, possibly even causing serious injuries,” he said.Pandit urged people from all walks of life to cooperate with journalists who work on the ground to bring the truth to the public.“The doctors who assaulted the journalists should face the same punishment or penalty that was given to the attendant who attacked a doctor,” he added.