Lok Sabha Question No. 1281 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-18
Subject: Attack on Journalists
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN, MOHAMMAD SALIM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1281

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2018/AGRAHAYANA 27, 1940 (SAKA)

ATTACK ON JOURNALISTS

1281.

SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN:

SHRI MOHD. SALIM:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is collecting statistics regarding cases of attack on journalists across the country;
- (b) if so, the details of such attacks in each State and Union Territory during the last four years and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any preventive and deterrent action as deemed fit for providing security to ensure safety and security of journalists in exercising  freedom  of  speech  and  expression,  in  the  wake  of  incidents  of attacks on media persons specially during elections in the country;
- (d) whether the Government is considering to bring in a legislation to protect journalists/media personnel to exercise freedom of speech and expression in their professional pursuit; and
- (e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a)  &  (b):  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB)  has  not  published  data  on attacks in respect of separate categories of professionals, including journalists. However, as per monthly information collected for cases registered under section 325, 326, 326A & 326B IPC for attacks on journalists, State wise information for the period 2014 - 2016 is given at Annexure.

## LS.US.Q.NO.1281 FOR 18.12.2018

(c): Police' and 'Public Order' are State subjects under the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of India and State Governments are responsible for prevention, detection, registration and investigation of crime and for prosecuting  the  criminals  through  their  law  enforcement  agencies.    The Ministry of Home Affairs have issued advisories to the States and UTs, from time to time, to maintain law and order, which are available in the Ministry's website  viz  www.mha.gov.in.    An  advisory  on  safety  of  journalists  has  been issued  to  States/UTs  on  20th  October  2017.    Central  Government  attaches highest importance to the safety and security to every citizen of the country including  journalists.  The  existing  laws  for  protection  of  citizens  also  cover journalists.    The  Press  Council  of  India  also  takes  appropriate  action  on receipt of specific complaints from affected journalists.

(d) & (e): No such proposal is under consideration at present.

## Annexure

State/UT wise cases registered (CR) for attacks on media persons (under section 325, 326, 326A & 326B IPC) during 2014-2016

| Sl.No.                                 | State/UT                               | 2014                                   | 2015                                   | 2016                                   |
|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|----------------------------------------|
| Sl.No.                                 | State/UT                               | CR                                     | CR                                     | CR                                     |
| 1                                      | Andhra Pradesh                         | 4                                      | 1                                      | 6                                      |
| 2                                      | Arunachal Pradesh                      | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 3                                      | Assam                                  | 2                                      | 0                                      | 2                                      |
| 4                                      | Bihar                                  | 22                                     | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 5                                      | Chhattisgarh                           | 0                                      | 1                                      | 0                                      |
| 6                                      | Goa                                    | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 7                                      | Gujarat                                | 3                                      | 0                                      | 1                                      |
| 8                                      | Haryana                                | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 9                                      | Himachal Pradesh                       | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 10                                     | Jammu & Kashmir                        | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 11                                     | Jharkhand                              | 3                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 12                                     | Karnataka                              | 0                                      | 0                                      | 2                                      |
| 13                                     | Kerala                                 | 0                                      | 0                                      | 1                                      |
| 14                                     | Madhya Pradesh                         | 7                                      | 19                                     | 24                                     |
| 15                                     | Maharashtra                            | 5                                      | 1                                      | 0                                      |
| 16                                     | Manipur                                | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 17                                     | Meghalaya                              | 1                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 18                                     | Mizoram                                | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 19                                     | Nagaland                               | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 20                                     | Odisha                                 | 1                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 21                                     | Punjab                                 | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 22                                     | Rajasthan                              | 0                                      | 5                                      | 0                                      |
| 23                                     | Sikkim                                 | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 24                                     | Tamil Nadu                             | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 25                                     | Telangana                              | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 26                                     | Tripura                                | 2                                      | 0                                      | 5                                      |
| 27                                     | Uttar Pradesh                          | 63                                     | 1                                      | 3                                      |
| 28                                     | Uttarakhand                            | 1                                      | 0                                      | 3                                      |
| 29                                     | West Bengal                            | NR                                     | NR                                     | NR                                     |
|                                        | Total (State)                          | 114                                    | 28                                     | 47                                     |
| 30                                     | A & N Islands                          | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 31                                     | Chandigarh                             | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 32                                     | D & N Haveli                           | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 33                                     | Daman & Diu                            | 0                                      | 0                                      | NR                                     |
| 34                                     | Delhi                                  | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 35                                     | Lakshadweep                            | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
| 36                                     | Puducherry                             | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
|                                        | Total (UTs)                            | 0                                      | 0                                      | 0                                      |
|                                        | Total (All India)                      | 114                                    | 28                                     | 47                                     |
| Source : National Crime Records Bureau | Source : National Crime Records Bureau | Source : National Crime Records Bureau | Source : National Crime Records Bureau | Source : National Crime Records Bureau |

NR : Implies data not received.