Agra Scribes On War Path As Fellow Journalist Is Arrested, Demonstration Today

Agra, March 19 (TNA) Journalists in the Taj city have been fuming with anger and deep desperation after a journalist Gaurav Bansal (40) was arrested two days ago, presented in the court and sent to the jail in judicial custody till March 21 when his bail application will be taken up for hearing.

Etmauddaula police station cops in the FIR have charged him with creating ruckus, disturbing peace and disrupting government work at the vote counting centre at the Mandi Samiti campus. All the major associations including the local press club have accused the police of high handedness, roughing up the accused and even using third degree methods.

A video showing Gaurav in a shaky condition is in circulation. Police officials however denied the charges and claimed several cases were pending against the accused. Agra journalists have decided to stage a dharna on March 19, at the Shahid Smarak. Several delegations have met the senior administrative and police officials to secure release of Gaurav Bansal.

Strangely, political leaders have not yet come to the aid of the arrested journalist who has been close to the Samajwadi Party and was consistently critical of the BJP. Neither has any human rights group come to his help, though there is a lot of social media activity. In coming days, the media protest could snowball into a movement for press freedom, senior journalists have said.