PCI summons district SP in case of assault on journalist in AP

Hyderabad: The Press Council of India today directed the Superintendent of Police of Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh to appear before its inquiry committee which is probing an attack on a journalist last month.

C K Prasad, PCI chairman, had yesterday ordered Trivikram Varma, SP of Prakasam, to appear today, but the officer did not turn up.

Indian Journalists Union has filed a petition before PCI alleging that Nagarjuna Reddy, a freelance journalist based in Chirala in the district, was assaulted by the brother of local MLA Amanchi Krishnamohan and his supporters over a magazine article, and false cases were filed against him.

The PCI chairman today noted that Varma did not appear before the inquiry committee, nor did he give any reason, so he must appear in person at the next hearing.

Further, police should not take any "coercive action" against the journalist till the next hearing, Prasad said in the order.

The next date of hearing is yet to be fixed.

Meanwhile, in another case, the PCI today sought reply form University of Hyderabad and Cyberabad police here on the ban on entry of journalists by the varsity authorities.

PCI took up the matter after an FIR was filed against Kunal Shankar, a journalist, for entering the University without permission to cover the first death anniversary of Dalit research scholar Rohith Vemula.