India has ‘No data on attacks on journalists’ since 2014: I&B Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore
New Delhi, Dec 21: The government does not have data on how many journalists were murdered or attacked since 2014 as the National Crime Records Bureau does not compile data divided by professions.
However, the government is in the process of collating this information. This is what Minister of State (independent charge) for Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Rathore told the Lok Sabha on Thursday, responding to a question by Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi.
Apart from the numbers on attacks on journalists, Trivedi had asked the I&B ministry if the government was aware of India’s rank of 138 in the 2018 World Press Freedom Index published by the international non-profit organisation Reports Without Borders. He had also questioned whether the Press Council of India (PCI) has “conducted any study to find out the reasons for the deteriorating press freedom index”.
In its response the I&B ministry said the government “has come across media reports” regarding the World Press Freedom Index. However, Rathore said that PCI “has raised its concern about the authenticity and credibility of the reports and the basis on which the ranking is done and also the methodology used to rank the nations”.
PCI is also in contact with the South Asian Office of Reporters Without Borders, the minister said, “to learn about their methodology to arrive at the ranking and had expressed its willingness” to share with them how it is “working to preserve the freedom of press”, but the international body did not respond.
At UNESCO’s conference in Jakarta in May 2017, PCI stated that the index “does not present all sides of the matter and most importantly when India does have an autonomous body for the protection and preservation of freedom of press, then at least Reporters Without Borders should have consulted such an organisation as part of good research”, Rathore said.
Courtesy: indianexpress.com
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Goa nightclub fire: Co-owner Ajay Gupta's police remand extended by four days
Panaji (PTI): A Goa court on Thursday extended by four days the police remand of Ajay Gupta, co-owner of Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub, where a devastating fire on December 6 killed 25 persons.
Gupta was arrested from New Delhi on December 10. A court in Mapusa had remanded him in police custody for seven days at the time.
Gupta was presented before the lower court, which sent him to four-day police custody as his initial remand was expiring, his advocate Rohan Desai told reporters.
"Gupta had complained about back pain. The court ordered his medical examination, after which he was allowed use of a mattress in custody. He was examined by a specialised doctor at Goa Medical College and Hospital near here," the lawyer said.
Twenty-five persons, including 20 staff members and five tourists, were killed in the major blaze at the nightclub at Arpora in North Goa around midnight of December 6.
Gupta had, during the day, filed an bail application.
So far, eight persons have been arrested in connection with the case, including Gupta, and two other owners - Gaurav Luthra and his brother Saurabh - who were deported from Thailand.
Five other staffers of the nightclub arrested in the case are Rajiv Modak (Corporate General Manager), Priyanshu Thakur (Gate Manager), Rajveer Singhania (Bar Manager), Vivek Singh (General Manager) and Bharat Karan Singh Kohli (employee).
A Look Out Circular (LOC) has been issued against Surinder Kumar Khosla, another owner of the nightclub who is a British citizen, police said.
