Two Journalists arrested from Singhu border by Delhi Police

Pallavi Gupta | New Delhi

Mandeep Punia, a freelance journalist was arrested by Delhi Police today from Singhu Border at around 6:30 pm. Another journalist named Dharmendra Singh was also detained today evening.

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Sources said, "he was arrested most probably because of his live video from social media platform Facebook. He was doing a live video about violence at Singhu Border on Friday."

Delhi Police is not giving any information about the whereabouts of both journalists. Meanwhile, 20 journalists gathered outside the Alipur Police Station to know the whereabouts after the information coming through reports, that eyewitnesses said they were beaten up by the police and then were taken to Alipur Police Station. 

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Mandeep Punia has graduated from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in 2018.

Nowadays, Mandeep Punia is contributing to JunPuth and TheCaravanIndia. Many people started speaking up their voices on social media platforms about the arrest. Yogendra Yadav, actively participating in Farmer Protest, tweeted in the favor of Mandeep Punia, “Just not done. I have known Mandeep to be a passionate and committed journalist.

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Picking up someone like him, without any legal basis, is another instance of growing threat to free media. Release Mandeep Punia immediately.” 

Just not done.
I have known Mandeep to be a passionate and committed journalist.
Picking up someone like him, without any legal basis, is another instance of growing threat to free media.
Release Mandeep Punia immediately. pic.twitter.com/CQmheGqAU4

— Yogendra Yadav (@_YogendraYadav) January 30, 2021

Many other journalists and farmer supporters came in support and started tweeting for the release of Mandeep with hashtags #FreeMandeepPunia #ReleaseMandeepPunia.

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The International Agency Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a late night alert.

CPJ is concerned by reports that journalists Mandeep Punia & Dharmender Singh have been detained while reporting on the #farmersprotests in Delhi. They should be released immediately & Indian authorities should allow journalists to do their work without interference@DelhiPolice https://t.co/gxaJDG2q3G

— CPJ Asia (@CPJAsia) January 30, 2021

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