The DNIF said that the FIR by Unnao Police was a clear and deliberate attempt at muzzling journalists.
DIGIPUB News India Foundation (DNIF), an association of digital-only news ventures and freelancers, today condemned the FIR that was registered against Mojo Story’s Barkha Dutt amongst others under section 153 of the IPC (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riots) and Section 66 of Information and Technology Act for spreading false information. The association stressed that the allegations against the journalists were “outright false”.
DIGIPUB News India Foundation strongly condemns the FIR against @BDUTT's @themojostory in connection to the #Unnao deaths. It is a clear example of the muzzling of journalism by the state. pic.twitter.com/8uQfrTn3E7
— DIGIPUB News India Foundation (@DigipubIndia) February 22, 2021
The DNIF said that the FIR by Unnao Police was a clear and deliberate attempt at muzzling journalists and keeping them from doing their jobs.
The DNIF also said that Mojo Story has been denied the copy of the FIR, because of which it cannot appeal for legal intervention.
Calling out Uttar Pradesh government and centre for repeated threats to journalist for doing their jobs, the DNIF also reminded them of the Siddiqui Kappan case, in which the journalist is being held since last year when he went for reporting the Hathras case.
The news media that DigiPub represents will not be intimidated and prevented from reporting the truth, however inconvenient it may be for anyone, the DNIF said.
The DNIF said that it stands by the journalists named in the FIR and intends to “challenge this bullying without compromise”.
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