NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD, Aug 16: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has condemned the high-handed attitude of the Meghalaya police which it displayed while intimidating the news portal— Northeast Now to offload a news item and disclose its sources.
In a press release issued today, IJU has said that the move by Meghalaya police is an extreme example of coerciveness since it has gone to the extent of coming to the conclusion that media houses had no journalistic privilege or any codification which prevents them for disclosing their sources. The issue has led to the creation of apprehension among Meghalaya’s media fraternity wherein they fear police reprisal and misuse of power.
The row started with Northeast Now carrying a news item suggesting that former Chief Minister and Congress leader Mukul Sangma may join BJP during its on-going membership drive. The portal was sent a notice under Section 91CrPc by Special SP MGT Sangma directing it to ‘remove the item’, as it was “misinformation” and asked it to “provide the authenticity of the sources of information.” 
The portal published the said notice under headline “Meghalaya Police sends gag order to Northeast Now, demands source of information from journalists”. Thereafter, Assistant IG (A) J.K Ingarai issued a press release to all Editors of the media in the state justifying its notice claiming the item contains “rumours which may incite hatred or ill-will between different communities” apart from “the intent to defame Mukul Sangma.” He also asserted there is “no journalistic privilege or any codification that prevents media houses from disclosing their source of information as and when required”. 
IJU President and Member, Press Council of India D Amar and Secretary General and IFJ Vice President Sabina Inderjit said that the notice was misuse of power as the news item was far from “inciting hatred or ill will” and that no criminal case had been registered. Adding further, they said that police could not compel the portal to disclose its sources as media’s right to protect its sources of information is internationally recognised and the Press Council of India's Norms of Journalistic Ethics too reiterates such right. 
IJU along with Northeast India Federation of Journalists also said that since the portal had later duly added Mukul Sangma’s tweet which clarified that the item as “misinformation,” the matter should have ended there. But still there is a persistent demand asking Northeast Now to disclose source which is unfair and arbitrary and police must withdraw the order, IJU demanded. IJU PR

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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