Tamil Nadu: Journalists outraged by Chennai Police Commissioner's circular asking cops to monitor crime reporters

Journalists from Tamil Nadu expressed their outrage over the circular issued by Chennai Police Commissioner S George, which has asked all police officers to keep crime reporters under supervision.

In an exclusive interview with ANI, Anbazhan, president of the Madras Union of Journalists, said, "The Chennai Police Commissioner sent out a circular to police officials regarding the monitoring of the media. The circular stated that the journalists be placed under the supervision of the police officials, without the knowledge of the said journalists."

Calling it a "serious threat to fair and free journalism", he further said, "Controlling and monitoring the journalist will spoil the democracy of the country."

Agreeing, R Subramanian, secretary of the Chennai Press Club said, "The city police has failed to check the ever growing crime rate. In order to hide the numbers from the public, they are indulging in these activities against journalists. In other cities, the police have got spokespersons to interact regularly with the media. In Chennai, this is not the case."

Earlier this week, Chennai Police Commissioner S George had allegedly issued an internal circular, asking officials to keep a tab on media houses to ensure there are no negative reports by the media in the city.