Media commission condemns arrest of journalist under OSA

The South Asia Media Commission has condemned the arrest of Mumbai journalist Tarakant Dwivedi, who exposed the faulty storage of weapons purchased after the 26/11 attack in the Railway Protection Force armoury.

In a statement on behalf of the Commission, noted journalists Kumar Ketkar and K K Katyal said that the "commendable job of investigative journalism" ought to have been regarded service to national interest.

"Instead, RPF slammed the provisions of the Official Secret Act (OSA) on Dwivedi booking him for alleged trespass of railway property and for spying", they said.

Observing that media has always been wary of misuse of OSA by authorities to cover their acts of omission and commission, it called for deterrent action against those responsible for the arrest and demanded safeguards for journalists against the abuse of OSA.