JournalismPakistan.com | Published September 27, 2017
Join our WhatsApp channel
NEW DELHI - Authorities in India must thoroughly investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators behind an attack on journalist Sanjeev Gopalan in the southern Kerala state, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday.
Local police in the town of Varkala Sunday beat up Gopalan, a reporter for the Malayalam-language Kalakaumudi Weekly newspaper, in front of his house, according to a report on the national news broadcasting network NDTV and the Kalakaumudi Weekly’s chief reporter, Sreekumar, who goes only by his first name. According to these sources, two police and a sub-inspector beat the journalist with their bare hands.
Gopalan’s eyes and knees are swollen, and he has been admitted to the local hospital in Varkala, Sreekumar told CPJ.
“They tore up my clothes, and stripped me in front of my wife and child," Gopalan told CPJ from the hospital.
Sreekumar told CPJ that Gopalan was attacked because of a story his colleague wrote several months ago that accused the police of failing to protect two women who complained of harassment.
Gopalan said he heard police mention the article as they beat him, according to the NDTV article.
The Kalakaumudi Weekly filed a complaint with the Thiruvananthapuram rural district police who oversee the police in Varkala, according to Sreekumar.
“Police should not attack journalists for their reporting,” said CPJ’s Asia program coordinator, Steven Butler, from Washington D.C. “Indian authorities must thoroughly investigate this beating of Sanjeev Gopalan and ensure the perpetrators do not get away with this.”
Asok Kumar, the district police chief, told CPJ, "We have ordered an inquiry into the matter. Only after it is complete and a report has been submitted can we comment on the case."
NDTV reported that, after the alleged beating took place, local police filed a case against Gopalan and three others on accusations that the group assaulted police officers who tried to stop them from drinking in public.
According to a 2016 CPJ special report, “Dangerous Pursuits,” journalists in small-town India face a greater risk of attacks than those working in larger cities. - CPJ News Alert
February 11, 2025: The PFUJ has petitioned the Islamabad High Court to suspend the PECA Amendment Act, arguing that the law curtails press freedom and contains contradictory provisions. The court has issued a notice to the Attorney General for assistance.
February 09, 2025: Hum News Network becomes the first Pakistani channel to embrace AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek, enhancing productivity and innovation. Discover how this visionary move sets new standards in media.
February 08, 2025: As Pakistan faces an economic crisis, the government splurges taxpayers' money on full-page ads and press releases to glorify its achievements. Critics call it a wasteful PR stunt. Read how public funds are being misused for political propaganda.
February 07, 2025: PTV pensioners staged nationwide protests demanding their unpaid pensions, medical benefits, and dues for nearly 400 retirees. Protesters, supported by PFUJ, criticized PTV management for corruption and lavish expenses while neglecting retirees' rights.
February 06, 2025: PFUJ has challenged the controversial PECA Act 2025 in the Islamabad High Court, citing it as an attack on press freedom. Journalists and rights organizations protest the law’s implications for free speech and media independence in Pakistan.
February 06, 2025: Pakistani women journalists like Munizae Jahangir and Asma Shirazi face severe threats, harassment, and online abuse. This article explores the struggles of women in media, the systemic challenges, and potential solutions to ensure press freedom and journalist safety.
January 29, 2025: As the White House welcomes podcasters and digital journalists, Pakistan tightens censorship through PECA amendments, silencing independent voices and forcing journalists into exile. A stark contrast in press freedom emerges.
January 29, 2025: Pakistan’s latest PECA amendments expand government control over social media, criminalize misinformation, and threaten freedom of expression. Media stakeholders and human rights groups condemn the draconian changes. Learn more about the implications for journalists and activists.
February 14, 2025 Justice remains elusive 16 years after the assassination of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge, as Sri Lanka’s Attorney General orders the release of three key suspects. Journalist organizations strongly condemn the move, calling for urgent action to end impunity for crimes against the media.
February 09, 2025 The Dart Center Ochberg Fellowship 2025 is open for applications! This prestigious program at Columbia University offers journalists an intensive seminar on trauma reporting, media ethics, and responsible journalism. Apply by March 3, 2025.
February 07, 2025 Mozambican journalist Albino Sibia was killed while filming police brutality, and reporter Pedro Junior was shot covering his funeral. Arlindo Chissale remains missing. These attacks highlight the dire state of press freedom in Mozambique amid post-election unrest.
February 05, 2025 The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the Indian government to stop targeting independent journalism after revoking the nonprofit and tax-exempt statuses of The Reporters’ Collective and The File. Learn how this impacts investigative reporting and media freedom in India.
February 04, 2025 Ukraine’s security service (SBU) has opened a criminal case for disclosure of state secrets following Ukrainska Pravda’s report on statements by military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. CPJ urges authorities to respect press freedom and journalist protections.