The North News
Chandigarh, November 10
The Chandigarh Press Club has condemned what it described as “high-handed” behaviour by police officers against journalists covering a student protest at Panjab University. The incident took place at Gate No. 1 of the university, where several reporters, including Lalit Sharma and his team, were allegedly manhandled and denied entry despite showing valid media identity cards.
In a statement, the Press Club demanded an immediate inquiry into the incident and urged the Chandigarh Administration to issue clear directions to prevent such occurrences in the future. “It is highly unfortunate that police officials, including Inspector Rohtash Kumar Yadav and IPS officer Manjeet Sheoran, were involved in such misconduct,” the Club said.
The statement added that police personnel went so far as to threaten journalists with arrest — an act the Club called “unacceptable in a democratic society where freedom of the press is a constitutional right.”
The Press Club emphasised that while the police have a duty to maintain law and order, they must also exercise restraint and show sensitivity towards the media, who play a vital role in upholding transparency and informing the public.
