Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (GA) - pics - RK Durga Digitals

Udupi, Mar 12: Arrest of senior journalist B V Seetharam of Karavali Ale has surely united journos in most of the places.  It has been 9 days eversince B V See was arrested along with his wife Rohini and sent behind bars.  Though he was later released on conditional bail by court in Mangalore, he was arrested by Sagar police in similar case and was taken to Sagar.

Meanwhile B V See's arrest has invoked a lot of criticism from majority of people.  Despite a section of society supporting the action, no one can deny the fact that still a majority of people are against the police action and the course taken by law.  Even Justice M F Saldanha has condemned the arrest and termed it as attack on freedom of press.

The working journalists' association here too has joined in protest and condemned the arrest of B V See.  The journos held a protest on Monday March 12 morning in front of the deputy commissioner's office.  They later submitted an appeal to the chief minister through election officer Sethuram to provide suitable protection to the journalists.

They opined that B V See's arrest is not an isolated incident but many more such incidents of choking the voice of media have been taken place in the past.  It could be recalled that reporter Shijit and photo-journalist Umesh Marpally were assaulted and the latter's camera was damaged when they had gone to a private hospital to click the photos of a person injured in a building collapse at Manipal.  Despite protests and complaints nothing was done in the case except that a counter case was filed on Shijit and Umesh Marpally by the accused.

In the last week TV channel 'TV9's office was ransacked by some hired men in Bangalore while a reporter of ETV was manhandled by advocates in Hassan somedays ago.  Citing these, the protestors said that media's voice is being systematically choked using law and order.  They also sought intervention by the High Court in this regard.