The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim protection from arrest to two journalists in a case related to alleged custodial violence, caste-based abuse, and threat to life from Bhind police, especially from Superintendent of Police (SP) Asit Yadav.
While refusing to entertain the petition filed by Shashikant Jatav and Amarkant Singh Chouhan, the Bench of Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra and Justice Manmohan directed them to approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court within two weeks.
The petitioners alleged that they were kidnapped, assaulted in custody, and subjected to casteist abuse by SP Yadav & his subordinates on May 1.
As per the petitioners, the incident followed their coverage of the ongoing illegal sand mining activities in Chambal river region, allegedly carried out by the sand mafia with connivance with Bhind police.
The Apex Court observed that there must be some threat and ground, which made the journalists leave MP and come to Delhi.
Filed through Advocate on Record Yashwant, the petition submitted that the journalists were summoned under the guise of having tea with the SP, however, on entering his chambers, they discovered several other journalists stripped to their undergarments and allegedly assaulted.
The plea further contended that Shashikant Jatav, belonging to the Scheduled Caste ‘Jatav’ community, was subjected to casteist slurs and beaten with slippers on instructions from SP Yadav.
The journalists apprised the Apex Court that they could not safely approach the High Court due to continuous harassment at the hands of Bhind police and threats to their families.