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Indian reporter arrested after posting criticism of police Indian reporter arrested after posting criticism of police
(35 minutes later)
NEW DELHI — A journalist has been arrested and beaten in police custody in eastern India after he criticized the police on social media and demanded a law protecting reporters in a region embroiled in a decades-long Maoist insurgency, his lawyer and brother said Wednesday. NEW DELHI — Police in eastern India arrested a local journalist and beat him after he criticized authorities on social media and demanded a law protecting reporters in a region embroiled in a Maoist insurgency, his supporters said Wednesday.
Vishnu Singh said that his brother, reporter Prabhat Singh, was taken away by police late Monday. Singh works in the Bastar region of India’s Chhattisgarh state, which is one of the main centers of the rebels who are active in central and eastern India and stage hit-and-run attacks on government troops. The rebellion has been described as India’s biggest internal security threat. Prabhat Singh was taken away by police late Monday, said his brother, Vishnu Singh. Prabhat Singh works in the Bastar region of India’s Chhattisgarh state, a center for rebels who stage hit-and-run attacks on government troops across central and eastern India. The rebellion has been described as India’s biggest internal security threat.
Singh was brought before a court Tuesday and charged with circulating obscene material, his lawyer Khitij Dubey said. The lawyer said Singh told the court that he was beaten in custody.Singh was brought before a court Tuesday and charged with circulating obscene material, his lawyer Khitij Dubey said. The lawyer said Singh told the court that he was beaten in custody.
The Committee to Protect Journalists has demanded that Chhattisgarh authorities release Singh immediately.The Committee to Protect Journalists has demanded that Chhattisgarh authorities release Singh immediately.
Chhattisgarh state is a difficult place for reporters because criticism of security forces is often viewed as support for the rebels. Two other journalists have been arrested in the last year and are fighting charges of supporting the Maoists.Chhattisgarh state is a difficult place for reporters because criticism of security forces is often viewed as support for the rebels. Two other journalists have been arrested in the last year and are fighting charges of supporting the Maoists.
“The arrests and hounding of journalists and their defenders has given way to a climate of fear that risks turning parts of Chhattisgarh into a media black hole,” CPJ’s Asia program senior research associate, Sumit Galhotra said in the statement. “The arrests and hounding of journalists and their defenders has given way to a climate of fear that risks turning parts of Chhattisgarh into a media black hole,” CPJ’s Asia program senior research associate Sumit Galhotra said in the statement.
The rebels, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, demand a greater share of wealth from the area’s natural resources and more jobs for farmers and the poor. They often attack security forces and government officials and disrupt elections, which they see as perpetuating inequalities.The rebels, who say they are inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, demand a greater share of wealth from the area’s natural resources and more jobs for farmers and the poor. They often attack security forces and government officials and disrupt elections, which they see as perpetuating inequalities.
Ongoing government offensives have had little lasting impact.Ongoing government offensives have had little lasting impact.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.