Guwahati: The Press Council of India (PCI) has concluded hearing in a case it registered on an ULFA threat to editors of two Assamese dailies and a private television channel.

The PCI took suo motu cognisance of media reports on the threat held out by the United Liberation Front of Asom to North East Television and its diktat to the editor of Dainik Asom, Dhirendra Nath Chakrabarty, and the editor of Dainik Agradoot, Kanaksen Deka, to give up journalism. While Mr. Chakrabarty presented himself before a three-member PCI team, Mr. Deka was represented by his son Pranjal Sen Deka.

Manoranjana Singh, chairperson and managing director, NETV, on which the ULFA served a quit notice over a news broadcast on the militant outfit withdrawing its ban on the National Games held recently, also personally made her submission.

This was stated by two members of the PCI team, Hiranmay Karlekar, consultant editor of Pioneer and former editor of Indian Express, and K.S. Sachidananda Murthy, resident editor of The Week, who briefed reporters here, after a two-day hearing, on Wednesday. Mr. Karlekar said the team would submit its report to PCI chairman G.N. Ray within a week.

It met Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to hear him on the ULFA threat to journalists as well as an NETV complaint against the Assam government for withdrawing accreditation to journalists of the channel over the broadcast on the National Games.

The team, which included Gitartha Pathak, senior journalist and PCI representative from the northeast, said Mr. Gogoi and the Chief Secretary were yet to respond to two letters Justice Ray wrote on February 6 seeking a report.

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