Complaint to SHRC over attack on Shahina
The South India Cell for Human Rights Education and Monitoring (Sichrem), on Tuesday said it has lodged a complaint before the Karnataka State Human Rights Commission regarding the attack on Shahina in Somwarpet on December 9.
Shahina K K, 37, a journalist from Kerala, who had to visit the Somwarpet tahsildar’s office to fulfil a legal procedure was allegedly attacked by a ‘right wing’ organisation, even as she was inside a police van that was escorting her to ‘safety’, on Friday.
Shahina, who is facing charges of criminal intimidation after she had interviewed K K Yogananda, one of the eye-witnesses in the Madani case, and reported that the witness had actually not seen Madani, had to appear at the tahsildar’s office for the identification parade.
A section of the media had reported about the same in Kerala and also in Bangalore.
Action sought
Sichrem, while drawing the attention of the Human Rights Commission, has requested for action against the authorities involved.
“If Shahina asked the police for security and was refused, we wonder what was on the minds of the police... We seek that your office initiate strict action and seek an explanation,” Sichrem has stated in its letter to the Commission.
Another organisation, People’s Solidarity Concerns, has condemned the attack on Shahina and has appealed to trade unions, democratic organisations, media organisations and secular people to take note of these growing attacks on the freedom of the press.
