The Press Club of India, Indian Women’s Press Corps, and Delhi Union of Journalists have strongly condemn and call for punitive action against the Bhind Police (Madhya Pradesh), including Superintendent of Police (SP), Asit Yadav, for the brutal manhandling of journalists Sashikant Goyal and Amarkant Chauhan on May 1, 2025. Even more shocking is that the physical violence against the journalists was inflicted under the supervision of none other than the SP Bhind, Asit Yadav, in his chamber after Goyal and Chauhan were “invited” to have tea with him. Goyal works for the MP-based news portal Dainik Bejor Ratna, while Chauhan is the Bhind bureau chief of
Swaraj Express.
“Various news reports suggest that the Bhind Police was displeased with the continuous reporting about the illegal sand mining activities in the Chambal river that are carried out by the sand mafia in connivance with the local police and wanted to teach the journalists a lesson,” read a statement from the Press Club of India.
“The State Press Club, Madhya Pradesh, is already seized of the matter and issued a statement on May 3, demanding action against the police officials. The Press Club of India along with the undersigned organisations strongly urge the Director General of Police (DGP), Madhya Pradesh Mr. Kailash Makwana (IPS), to take note of the serious transgressions committed by the Bhind Police. We urge him to conduct an impartial inquiry into the incident of police assault on Goyal and Chauhan on May 1 and their subsequent harassment for simply doing their jobs. We would like to remind the DGP that reporting about illegal activities by vested interests is not a crime, instead, it’s the duty of journalists. We call upon the Press Council of India to treat this matter with utmost seriousness and follow the process of law against SP Bhind, Asit Yadav, and other police officials who took part in the orgy of violence against the journalists,” mentioned the release.
We expect the Press Council of India to issue instructions to the DGP Madhya Pradesh Police to preserve all CCTV footage at the office and residence of SP Bhind along with other electronic evidence. We would like to remind the Press Council of India that, among other things, it exists to protect press freedom and journalists against violence and threats to their right to profession. The Press Council of India should exercise the considerable powers vested in it under the Press Council of India Act, 1978. At the same time, we hope that the National Human Rights Commission would take cognizance of the incident (and the complaint) and uses its power to hold the errant police officials to account,” the statement read further.
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