Journalists move Supreme Court alleging assault, threat to life from MP Police

The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a petition filed by two Madhya Pradesh-based journalists who have alleged custodial violence, caste-based abuse, and ongoing threats to life from Bhind police, including the Superintendent of Police Asit Yadav [Shashikant Jatav @ Shashikant Goyal & Anr v. State of Madhya Pradesh]..The matter was mentioned for an urgent hearing before a vacation bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice SC Sharma..During the brief exchange, Justice Sharma questioned the petitioners’ decision to directly approach the top court instead of moving the Madhya Pradesh High Court.In response, the advocate appearing for the petitioners submitted that the Press Club of India has condemned the incident, and that the petitioners, fearing for their safety, have been forced to take refuge in Delhi.At this, Justice Karol remarked, “You know the conclusion if it comes before this bench."This prompted the advocate to say, “Then we will pray for this bench.” Justice Sharma, however, said,“I am stubborn.”.The bench then agreed to list the matter later this week..The writ petition, filed under Article 32 of the Constitution of India, has sought urgent protection for the two journalists, Shashikant Jatav and Amarkant Singh Chouhan.Jatav and Chouhan have alleged that they were kidnapped, assaulted in custody and subjected to casteist abuse by SP Yadav and his subordinates. The incident occurred on May 1 after the journalists reported on illegal sand mining activities in the Chambal river region, allegedly carried out by the sand mafia with police connivance, as per the plea..The journalists alleged that were summoned under the guise of having tea with the SP but upon entering his chambers, they discovered several other journalists stripped to their undergarments and allegedly assaulted. The petition alleges that Shashikant Jatav, who belongs to the Scheduled Caste ‘Jatav’ community, was subjected to casteist slurs and beaten with slippers on the instructions of SP Yadav.The same amounts to a violation of Articles 14, 15, and 21 of the Constitution and constitutes offences under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, it has been contended..The plea states that the journalists cannot safely approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court since they and their families continue to face threats and harassment from Bhind police. .Advocates Warisha Farasat, Tamanna Pankaj, Priya Vats, Aman Naqvi, Anirudh Ramanathan and Shivanjali Bhalerao appeared for the petitioners.