PRESS RELEASE: 226 journalists targeted in India during 2023

New Delhi, 03 May 2023: While releasing “INDIA PRESS FREEDOM ANNUAL REPORT 2023”, India Freedom of Expression Initiative (IFEI) stated that about 226 journalists were targeted across India by the State agencies, non-state political actors, anti-social elements, criminals, mafia, etc during 2023. Among the States/Union Territories (UTs), the journalists from Delhi faced the maximum target with 54; followed by West Bengal (25); Manipur (22); Uttar Pradesh (20); Kerala (16); Jharkhand (11); Maharashtra and Telangana (8 each); Assam, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh (7 each); Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka and Odisha (5 each); Andhra Pradesh and Haryana (4 each); Punjab (3); Tripura (2); and Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand (1 each).

In 2023, five journalists were killed by non-state actors and criminals in Uttar Pradesh (2), Maharashtra (1), Assam (1) and Bihar (1).

Out of the 226 journalists targeted across the country, 30 were female journalists. Delhi reported the highest number with 12; followed by Kerala and Manipur (5 each); West Bengal (3), Punjab (2); and Odisha, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh (1 each). Majority of these female journalists (23) were targeted by the police, which included arrest/detention (3), registration of FIRs (9), questioning, assault and raid on houses.

While 148 journalists were targeted by the State actors, 78 journalists were targeted by the non-State actors including political leaders/activists/criminals.

“Real journalism has become the most dangerous profession in India. It is no longer the fourth pillar of democracy but the first pillar of target to establish a controlled democracy”- stated Mr Suhas Chakma, Coordinator of the India Freedom of Expression Initiative and author of the report.

Out of the 148 journalists targeted by State actors, Delhi reported the highest with 51; followed by Manipur and West Bengal (19 each); Kerala (11); Uttar Pradesh (9); Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jammu and Kashmir and Karnataka (4 each); Haryana, Jharkhand, Maharashtra and Punjab (3 each); Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Telangana (2 each); and Assam, Bihar, Tamil Nadu, Tripura and Uttarakhand (1 each).

Out of these 148 journalists targeted by State actors, 21 journalists were arrested/ detained; First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered against 47 journalists; 54 journalists were summoned for questioning, or notice issued to reveal sources or passport impounded or their house raided; and 26 journalists were physically attacked, threatened or harassed by police/public officials.

Delhi reported the highest number of arrest/detention of four journalists, followed by Haryana (3); Jammu and Kashmir, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Punjab and Chhattisgarh (2 each); and Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal (1 each). Two of the arrested/ detained journalists were female.

West Bengal reported the highest number of registration of FIRs against journalists with 18, followed by Kerala (9), Manipur (5), Andhra Pradesh (4), Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh (3 each), Jharkhand (2), Assam, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu (1 each).

During 2023, out of the 78 journalists attacked by the non-State actors including political leaders/activists, criminals, etc across the country, the maximum attacks on journalists were reported from Uttar Pradesh (11), followed by Jharkhand (8), West Bengal, Assam, Telangana and Bihar (6 each), Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala and Himachal Pradesh (5 each); Delhi, Manipur and Odisha (3 each); and Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Tripura (1 each).

Out of these 78 journalists attacked by non-state actors, 56 were attacked by criminals, anti-social elements, etc and 22 by political leaders or their supporters.

“One of the first signs of establishing controlled democracy is the codification of the censorship regime. During 2023, India saw a number of measures for codification of censorship i.e. the enactment of the Press and Registration of Periodicals Act, 2023 denying the right to bring out a periodical to persons “having done anything against the security of the State” which is not defined under any law; introducing the Broadcasting Regulation Services Bill, 2023 that seeks to silence electronic and social media users and the enactment of the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules of 2023 which made the State the sole owner of the truth!” – further stated Mr Chakma.

The Supreme Court has stayed the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023. [Ends]

ANNEX 1: List of 226 journalists targeted during 2023