Media not entirely responsible for resort attack – Mangalore police commissioner

Media not entirely responsible for resort attack – Mangalore police commissioner

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, July 30, 2012: Addressing members of the Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists’ Association (DKDWJA), who had submitted a memorandum urging the police to withdraw FIRs registered against media persons in connection with the recent attack on young people at Morning Mist Home Stay, Mangalore Police Commissioner said that he does not consider the media as entirely responsible for the attack.  

Explaining further, the police commissioner said that the police have not arrested any reporter so far, but are still investigating the role played by the media in the attack. He disclosed that one of the arrested men had informed the police that they had called the media, but the police are not taking his words as the complete truth. Instead, the police are investigating the matter to find out the truth, he added.

 

Urging reporters to do their duty, he said that the police department and the media have a greater duty toward society and that the media ought to have informed the police. The reporter interrogated by the police stated that the reporters were outnumbered by the mob and that they could do nothing, said the commissioner. While voicing his feelings that, if the reporters were really concerned, they could have done something to stop the incident. Besides, they could have called emergency police No. 100, he added. 

Responding to the commissioner’s statements, the reporters said that the police hardly respond to calls made by media people. Mr. Singh said that he will direct all police officers to take calls from reporters seriously or call them back if they are unable to receive the call for some reason. 

While admitting that the video footage had helped the police identify the culprits, the commissioner said that the attack could have been prevented if the media had informed the police well in advance. He also alleged that reporters focused more on the victims than on the culprits. 

When a reporter stated that police personnel were present when the mob had barged into the home stay, Mr. Singh demanded evidence and said that, if any police officer is found guilty, strict action will be taken against him. 

Stating that the police have not registered FIRs against the media out of personal enmity, he invited reporters to join a committee of police officers to sort out the matter. 

A delegation of reporters, under the leadership of DKDWJA President P. B. Harish Rai, had submitted a memorandum to the police commissioner. Stating that reporters have the right to convey news to the public, Mr. Rai urged the police to withdraw cases filed against reporters and allow them to freely do their duty.