Lawfare, Detention – Journalists

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and it’s affiliate the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) condemn the arbitrary detention and slapping of charges of trespass against journalist Kunal Shankar in Hyderabad, Telangana state in southern India on January 17. The IFJ urges the Indian authorities to refrain from any activities hindering press freedom.

Shankar, the Andra Pradesh and Telengana correspondent with the fortnightly English language magazine Frontline of the Hindu group, was picked up by the university security guards, and handed over to the police from outside the Life Sciences Building of the Hyderabad Central University where he was on assignment to cover a protest marking the first death anniversary of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula. He was taken to Gachibowli Police station through the back gate to avoid the media assembled outside the main gate, and was questioned for an hour before release.

The University filed a case of trespass against Shankar, even though he deposited his driving license and registered his presence at the security gate upon entering the University to cover the protest action. Amar Devulapalli, Secretary General IJU, condemned the incident and demanded the withdrawal of the case against the journalist. IJU also referred the matter to Press Council of India (PCI), which has taken suo motu cognizance.