IJU Decries “Shocking Assault” on News24 Team in Indore, Urges Swift Action and Stronger Journalist Protection

Union says violence against reporters exposes entrenched corruption and a widening safety deficit for the press in Madhya Pradesh

KalimNews, 2 December 2025, New Delhi : The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) has issued a forceful condemnation of the violent attack on News24 journalists Ashish Sharma and Imran Khan, who were brutally assaulted on 28 November at the Regional Transport Office (RTO) premises in Nayta Mundla, Indore. According to the IJU, the attack was carried out by a group of middlemen allegedly linked to the RTO while the journalists were reporting on corruption involving the issuance of driving licences and vehicle registrations. The assailants are reported to have held the journalists hostage, vandalised their equipment, and inflicted serious injuries in what the Union describes as an overt attempt to silence the press.

Expressing grave concern over the incident, IJU President and former Member of the Press Council of India, Geetartha Pathak, said the assault revealed “the brazenness of organised corruption networks operating openly in the state.” He stressed that the attack on journalists performing their duty of exposing malpractice in a public office was “deeply disturbing” and criticised the lack of immediate arrests despite the existence of clear video evidence. Pathak emphasised that this failure raised significant questions about law enforcement and the protection of press freedom in Madhya Pradesh, reiterating the Union’s demand for the swift arrest of all accused and the imposition of exemplary legal penalties.

IJU Secretary General and Vice President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Sabina Inderjit, echoed these concerns, warning that such incidents must not be normalised. She noted that the recurring pattern of violence against journalists in the state reflected a systemic breakdown in ensuring their safety. Inderjit added that corruption flourishes “where scrutiny is punished rather than encouraged,” and insisted that the government must ensure the protection of those who expose wrongdoing rather than leaving them vulnerable to attack.

The IJU highlighted that, although a First Information Report has been filed under several serious provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 — including charges relating to attempted culpable homicide and destruction of property — no arrests had been confirmed even two days after the incident. The Union warned that such delays send a disquieting signal to the wider media fraternity and embolden corrupt actors who believe they can act with impunity.

Drawing attention to longstanding issues within the state’s RTO system, the IJU noted that widespread corruption has frequently been exposed by journalists and civil society groups. It argued that the attack on the News24 team should not be viewed as an isolated event but as part of a wider environment in which criminal–bureaucratic networks feel empowered to suppress scrutiny through violence.

The Union has issued a set of urgent demands, including the immediate arrest of all those accused — particularly individuals named in the FIR — and the completion of a time-bound investigation. It has also called for the suspension of complicit RTO officials, including the clerk reportedly involved, and for a high-level inquiry into corruption within the Indore RTO and across the state. Further demands include the issuance of clear government directives to ensure the safety and security of journalists and to uphold press freedom as guaranteed under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, as well as the establishment of a formal journalist protection mechanism in Madhya Pradesh to prevent similar attacks in future.

The IJU has urged Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav to act decisively rather than limit the government’s response to statements. It asserted that press freedom cannot be defended by words alone at a time when journalists are facing violence for exposing corruption. The Union insisted that the government must send an unequivocal message that attacks on journalists will not be tolerated and that efforts to confront corruption will not be compromised.