Journalists stage protest condemning harassment by Special Investigation Team

Media protests SIT harassment of journalists in Anna University sexual assault case, demanding return of confiscated phones and fair investigation.

Accusing the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of harassing journalists while investigating the recent sexual assault case at Anna University, representatives of various media forums staged a protest on Saturday on the Chennai Press Club (CPC) premises.

The protest was led by office-bearers and members of the CPC along with senior journalists. Protesters raised slogans against the SIT, condemning its action of confiscating the mobile phones of several journalists. The team had allegedly seized the devices after journalists downloaded copies of the First Information Report (FIR) related to the case, claiming that such actions could lead to the “leak” of the victim’s identity. The journalists demanded the immediate return of their mobile phones and criticised the police for failing to apprehend the individual responsible for the initial leak.

M. Haseef, General Secretary of the CPC, said the SIT had overstepped its authority by summoning and harassing journalists, calling such actions unwarranted and unacceptable. He added that journalists were made to wait for hours without any valid reason, and their mobile phones were confiscated illegally, violating their fundamental rights.

Echoing similar concerns, M. Suresh Vethanayagam, president of the CPC, emphasised the importance of ensuring justice for the affected female student through a fair and proper investigation. However, he warned that the investigation process should not deviate from its course. “Strict instructions must be issued to the SIT to prevent any form of harassment or coercion of journalists under the pretext of investigation. It is essential to uphold journalistic rights,” he stated.

The protest concluded with a strong call for accountability and transparency in the investigative process while safeguarding press freedom.