Karnataka - Mysore   

Media told to exercise restraint while covering terrorism

MYSORE: Taking exception to the “unconfirmed” and “exaggerated” reports on the recent arrest of terror suspects in Karnataka, Chairman of the Legislative Council B.K. Chandrashekar has urged the media to exercise restraint while covering the issue of terrorism.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone of the first floor of the Mysore District Journalists’ Association building here on Wednesday, Prof. Chandrashekar denounced the “trial by media” of the terror suspects arrested recently in the State.

Prof. Chandrashekar decried the tendency among journalists to resort to sensationalisation of reports by carrying “unconfirmed” and “exaggerated” tales, attributed to questionable “sources”. “Though so much has been written about terrorist links and network in the State, the Police Department has denied the reports. Since, a majority of the people believe in media reports, journalists should check the veracity of the news they publish,” he said.

Prof. Chandrashekar advised the media to desist from jumping into hasty conclusions and declare the suspects as “terrorists”. He sought to remind journalists about the case of Haneef, doctor, who had been arrested in Australia on the false charge of terrorism, and was finally declared innocent.

In the present instance, Prof Chandrashekar claimed that he had spoken to senior police officials, who had denied that they has any evidence to prove terrorist activity in the State.

Prof. Chandrashekar also cited from newspaper clippings to highlight the dichotomy of media reports. “Contradictory reports on the issue of terrorism have appeared in same newspapers,” he said.

Prof. Chandrashekar apprehended a threat to the democratic fabric of society on account of such sensational reporting.

“Hence, the media should play a responsible role to ensure peace and harmony in society by exercising restraint,” he said.

He favoured a debate on the role of the media during the interregnum period after the suspects had been taken into custody and till the police filed a charge sheet.

He felt that the media was free to report the issue after the court passed its judgment.

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