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Hyderabad: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU), Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ), AP Electronic Media Journalists Association (APEMJA), AP Photo Journalists Association and AP Electronic Media Cameramen Association vehemently condemns the objectionable and outrageous behavior of the police while taking into custody the senior editorial staff of TV5 News Channel. The Executive Editor Mr. A Brahmananda Reddy and In-Put Editor Mr. P Venkata Krishna were taken into custody without ascertaining the culpability of these journalists for broadcast of a news on 7th January night. The Police could have taken the journalists into detention during the day if they had enough evidence against them.
K.Sreenivas Reddy, Secretary General, IJU, D.Somasundar, President and Y.Narender Reddy, General Secretary, APUWJ, Chandu Janardhan, President, APEMJA, K.N.Hari, President, AP Photo Journalists Association said in Joint statement released on the night of 8th January that Without going into the merits and demerits of the content of the broadcast, they feel that the police acted in haste and in contravention of the Law. The police failed to conduct proper and thorough inquiry to ascertain the involvement of those taken into custody.
They demanded that the journalists should be released from custody immediately. The haste of the police is evident from the fact that Section 16 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995 cited by them, does not apply in this case. They said that The journalists are very much agitated over this incident and urged upon the Chief Minister to immediately intervene and order the release of the arrested journalists. They have assured that the journalists would be present before the police whenever they are required and they will co-operate with them in the enquiry.
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