NewsLaundry journalist threatened not to report by Bajrang Dal members in Gurugram; Video viral
Was reporting from Sector 70 where several Muslim families had fled fearing assault by Bajrang Dal
Nuh (Haryana): In the backdrop of the recent communal violence in Haryana's Nuh district, where clashes erupted during a procession by the Bajrang Dal and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Newslaundry journalist faced intimidation while reporting in Sector 70, Gurugram.
Anmol Pritam, the journalist, had gone to cover the situation where several Muslim families had fled the area fearing assault by Bajrang Dal members.
On the scene, Anmol Pritam encountered three individuals affiliated with the Bajrang Dal, who arrived on an auto rickshaw with the Bajrang Dal anthem playing on a loudspeaker. The men proceeded to threaten the journalist and demanded that he leave the area and refrain from reporting on the situation. In a troubling turn of events, they even questioned whether Anmol was Hindu or Muslim. After verifying his identity, they allowed him to leave the area.
Sharing the video from his Twitter handle, Anmol Pritam said “Is it a crime to do journalism in Gurugram? Gurugram: In Sector 70, 200 Muslim families have fled fearing threats and assault by local Bajrang Dal workers. I was threatened twice when I was reporting there. my religion was asked and the camera was turned off.”
The communal clashes in Nuh district and the subsequent fears among Muslim families in Gurugram have heightened tensions and led to concerns over the law and order situation. Earlier in the day, Haryana DGP confirmed that 116 people have been arrested so far while 90 others have been detained for questioning. The violence in the region has led to six deaths including two home guards.
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— Anmol Pritam (@anmolpritamND) August 2, 2023
क्या गुरुग्राम में पत्रकारिता करना अपराध है?
गुरुग्राम: सैक्टर 70 में स्थानीय बजरंग दल कार्यकर्ताओं द्वारा धमकी, मारपीट के डर से 200 मुस्लिम परिवार पलायन कर चुके हैं. जब मैं वहां रिपोर्टिंग कर रहा था तो मुझे दो बार धमकी दी गई. मेरा धर्म पूछा गया और कैमरा बंद करा दिया गया pic.twitter.com/wNCzu1ETMQ
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Maharashtra sets up state vaccination task force to strengthen immunisation programme
Mumbai (PTI): The Maharashtra government has set up a State Vaccination Task Force to strengthen the regular immunisation programme and review the progress of related campaigns, a health department official said on Monday.
The State Vaccination Task Force will comprise at least 29 members and will be headed by the administrative head of the health department, he informed.
The government has also constituted separate district-level and municipal vaccination task forces to improve implementation and address challenges at the grassroots level, he said.
Municipal task forces, chaired by respective civic commissioners, have been constituted in view of the vast urban population in Maharashtra and the role of civic bodies in implementing different health programmes.
The district-level task forces will function under the chairmanship of collectors.
"Complete immunisation of children at the appropriate age is an extremely simple, cost-effective and highly effective measure to reduce child mortality and the prevalence of diseases among kids. Immunisation is a powerful tool for reducing illness in children," maintained the official.
To ensure full vaccination of all children, the state government implements various campaigns from time to time as per the central government guidelines, he pointed out.
"Active participation and cooperation of other relevant government departments are essential (in making these campaigns successful)," according to the official.
The state-level body will review the regular immunisation programme, associated campaigns and vaccine-preventable diseases in detail. It will also conduct focused assessments of high-risk districts and municipal corporations, including vacancies at district, municipal and sub-district levels, availability of cold chain equipment, resource gaps and training requirements, he noted.
The state task force will review allocation and utilisation of funds for immunisation and ensure timely action by officers concerned based on reports from district and municipal task forces and state-level monitoring mechanisms, the official said.
It will also ensure active coordination and participation of other government departments in immunisation drives, while district and municipal task forces will carry out similar functions at their respective levels, the official added.
