Guwahati journalist instead of taking video might have saved the girl from strippers.

Guwahati journalist instead of taking video might have saved the girl from strippers.

பத்திரிகையாளர் வீடியோ எடுப்பதைப் பெரிதாக நினைக்காமல் ஆபத்தில் இருக்கும் பெண்ணைக் காப்பாற்றியிருக்கலாம்.

Team Anna member and RTI activist Akhil Gogoi on Saturday produced video footage showing a TV reporter instigating people to strip a 20-year-old girl outside a Guwahati pub. The TV channel where the reporter works was the first to telecast the girl molested by a group of men.    

The Electronic Media Forum Assam (EMFA) asked the Assam government for a high-level impartial probe into the allegation of the reporter’s involvement in the case. Gogoi told reporters that he had given the footage to Assam police chief J N Choudhury on Saturday before making the clips public.    “The footage shows the reporter instigating the mob to molest the girl in front of the camera. It’s a shame when a reporter is involved in such a heinous crime. The incident has shamed Assam,” Gogoi said.    

Earlier, on Friday Gogoi had alleged the reporter instigated the crowd after she and her friend reacted to a lewd comment he made. Soon after, the EMFA issued a statement saying the accusation was unfounded and demanded evidence by 4pm on Saturday. Responding to EMFA’s demand, Gogoi presented the video footage backing his allegation. “I had decided to submit the video footage only to the police. The EMFA asked me for evidence to prove my allegation. So, I’m showing the footage to the media,” Gogoi said.   

 EMFA members, though, said the visuals presented by Gogoi were not enough to substantiate his allegation against the journalist. The visuals do not include raw footage of the incident; rather it was an edited DVD where there are chances of doctoring. Gogoi said raw video footage was not submitted to the police. “If the police want, we can give them the raw footage. The video we submitted to the police clearly establishes the reporter’s involvement,” he said.    

The activist will also send the footage to a National Commission for Women team probing the case.

Guwahati journalist instead of taking video might have saved the girl from strippers. Other than our wife we must treat all other women as our sisters and mothers.