DK journalists union condemns arrest of reporter, submit a memorandum to DC

DK journalists union condemns arrest of reporter, submit a memorandum to DC

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, Sep 9,2017: Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists’ Union condemned the arrest of a journalist of a daily and is expected to submit a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner on Friday inconnection with case. The journalist, Imthiaz Thumbay is reportedly booked under section 153A and 505-2 of Indian Penal Code. Dakshina Kannada police suo motu registered a case against the reporter of a Kannada daily in Bantwal for spreading false information through social media.

The reporter has been booked under Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot — if rioting be committed — if not committed) and Section 505 (2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes) of the Indian Penal Code, according to C.H. Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Superintendent of Police. The police are now questioning the reporter.

The case pertained to posts on social media regarding police allegedly disrespecting a holy book during search operations at the house of a murder accused near Bantwal.   The footage of the holy book thrown aside during the raid went viral on social media, after the search operations of Bantwal police at the house of Kalandar, an accused in the murder of RSS activist Sharath Madiwala. Soon SP Reddy clarified that the police had not done this as they respect holy books of all religions. He also asked those making allegations to watch the video recorded available with the police.


The police arrested  journalist of a Kannada daily on September 7 Thursday, late evening and have brought him to Bantwal police for his report on police raid on the residence of the prime accused in the murder of RSS worker, Sharath Madiwala. The raid was held on the residence of the prime accused, Kalandar located at Panolibail Neelya, Sajipamunnur last week.  The police took the reporter into their custody as content of his report hurts the sentiments of a particular community. The arrested journalist Imthiaz Thumbay is reportedly kept at Bantwal police station and cases have been registered against chief editor of the daily and Imthiaz regarding the report.

Earlier, Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police (SP) Sudheer Kumar Reddy expressed his dissatisfaction on the report published on the police raid and gave a clarification on the raid. The daily published the clarification of the police officer on one of its main page also to solve the issue. However, the police detained the reporter and brought him to Bantwal police station.