Mandeep Punia, a journalist has been detained by Delhipolice from Singhu protest site for allegedly misbehaving with Station HouseOfficer (SHO). The Indian Express has published a report on the same.
As per reports, Punia is a freelance journalist with TheCaravan magazine. He was detained while he was covering clashes ensued onJanuary 29 at Singhu protest site.
Now the farmers are demanding his release. According tosome farmers, Mandeep Punia exposed the nexus allegedly between BJP workers andstone pelting goons. He is not the only journalist detained by the police,Dharmender Singh, a journalist working with Online News India, was alsodetained by the police but as per report published in The Indian Express, hewas later released after he showed his press card.
Hartosh Singh Bal, Political Editor of The Caravan magazine,in a tweet said, the FIR has been registered under Sections 186 (obstructingpublic servant in discharge of public functions), 332 (voluntarily causing hurtto deter public servant from his duty), 353 (assault or criminal force to deterpublic servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code.
Meanwhile, according to several reports, the misleadingclaims were busted by Alt News about those claiming to be locals. According toAlt News, those were not only locals but also Hindu-Sena (a fringe group)backed protesters who were demanding to vacate the protest site from farmers.
Despite heavy security, the alleged locals were allowedto go near the protest site.