Indian Punjab Journalists Union condemns cybercrime FIRs against media

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published: 1 January 2026 |  JP Asia Desk

The Punjab and Chandigarh Journalists Union has condemned cybercrime FIRs filed against journalists and RTI activists. They warn that these actions threaten free expression and democracy.

Summary

CHANDIGARH — Punjab and Chandigarh Journalists Union has strongly condemned a series of cybercrime first information reports filed by the Ludhiana Urban Cyber Crime Police targeting journalists, RTI activists, and social media activists as a direct attack on press freedom and freedom of expression. The union leaders described the FIRs as unjustified legal harassment and intimidation of media workers and public interest advocates.

Union leaders, including Balbir Jandu, Rajan Mann, Jai Singh Chhibber, and Santokh Gill, said cases have been registered against Bathinda district press secretary Mandeep Singh Makkar, Lok Awaaz TV’s Maninder Singh Sidhu, Mintu Gurusaria, RTI activist Manik Goyal and other social media activists, actions they said are meant to suppress critical voices rather than address issues raised by journalists.

Union urges immediate withdrawal or quashing of cases

The union has sent a memorandum to the chairperson and secretary of the Press Council of India demanding immediate directions to the Punjab Government and the Director General of Police to withdraw or quash the FIRs, warning that such actions pose a serious threat to democratic values and a free press.

In their statement, leaders stressed that filing what they termed false and frivolous cases cannot suppress the voice of truth, and called on district, tehsil, and local units to submit protests through Deputy Commissioners, SDMs, and other officials to the Press Council of India, the Governor of Punjab, the Punjab Government, and the President of India.

Criticism of government, response, and political context

The union criticised the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, saying it came to power with promises of change but is now moving toward curbing the people’s right to question authority, which the union said is unacceptable in a democracy.

Political leaders outside the union also weighed in, with opposition figures describing the FIRs as intimidation and an effort to silence dissenting voices over issues, including questions about government actions.

Union leaders have warned that if the cases are not withdrawn immediately, they will intensify their struggle, reflecting broader concerns among media rights advocates about legal pressures on journalists and civic activists in India’s Punjab region.

ATTRIBUTION: Reporting based on Babushahi and the regional press club statements

PHOTO: AI-generated; for illustrative purposes only