Two Indian TV journalists assaulted in Pak

Two Indian journalists were assaulted by unidentified men near Lahore on Thursday. The journalists, both of them from news channel NewsX, were roughed up and threatened in their hotel in Lahore.

The Indian government called the assault "unfortunate", leading to the estimate that the incident could further vitiate the already tense atmosphere.

The journalists, Jujhar Singh and cameraman Tilak Raj, managed to escape without sustaining any serious injury. Their equipment, however, was snatched. The two were apparently assaulted in their hotel lobby after which they were told to remain confined to their rooms. The two later managed to drive to the Indian High Commission in Islamabad which informed Pakistani authorities, including the police, about the incident. The goons remained unidentified till late in the evening with some reports suggesting that they might have been working at the behest of the official machinery.

The foreign ministry later issued a statement describing the incident as unfortunate. "It is unfortunate that such an incident has taken place with two journalists from NewsX channel and that journalists are being treated in this manner. We are awaiting full details from our High Commission in Islamabad which has brought this to the attention of the concerned Pakistani authorities," said the statement.

The ministry again advised that it is unsafe for Indian nationals to travel to Pakistan. "The concerns which led to the travel advisory of December 26, 2008 still very much exist. Indian nationals are advised that it would be unsafe for them to travel or be in Pakistan," said a spokesperson.

Despite the official ban on them, organisations like Jaish-e-Mohammed, Jamaat-ud-Dawa and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen had participated in a public meeting on Wednesday at Muzaffarabad in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "No effort was made by the authorities to curb the activities of these groups. We strongly condemn the licence that banned terrorist organisations continue to enjoy in territory under Pakistan's control," the MEA said on Thursday.

Source : IANS