Journalists gathering at the Press Club has become standard given the spate of attacks on media houses and journalists. Friday saw another gathering of presswalahs mourning and condemning the murder of Shantanu Bhowmick in Mandai, Tripura. Bhowmik’s murder comes exactly 15 days after Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her home. Meetings happen, journalists show outrage, but is that enough?

This was not just another gathering however. Notwithstanding the incessant downpour, some well-known faces could be spotted at the conference room of the Press Club. But the crowd was sparse.
While some were busy grabbing the popular aloo bonda in the perfect weather, there were others who could not hide their outrage at the way Bhowmick was murdered. There were murmurs of “who’s next” this time too, much like earlier when hundreds gathered on September 6 at the same venue. But what was common to all who gathered on Friday was that most of them did not know Bhowmik personally. All they knew was a journalist was killed in the line of duty.

“There is a deliberate campaign being put out to suggest that journalists only protest when somebody in a big city is attacked, which is an absolutely false campaign,” said Rajdeep Sardesai, who had called for a silent protest on October 2. He appealed to all journalists in every district and every city to put out the “largest human chain” in solidarity with the repeated attacks on journalists in various parts of the country. “Every government in this country, whether state or Centre has made journalists a soft target,” Sardesai said while addressing a gathering trying to fit into the small conference room. “Every time we meet, we hope that this is last time we meet in such circumstances.”

Both Sardesai and Abhisar Sharma pointed out that there was a divide within the journalistic fraternity and that this was the time to stand united against the attacks.
“Suddenly you’re a leftist, you’re a rightist, you’re an anti-national, you’re a deshbhakt. These divisions have to end,” Sharma told Newslaundry. He added that journalists working in conflict zones should be trained to be aware of the dangers of working in such places.

Besides the division within the industry, accountability was another poignant point raised by the General Secretary of the Indian Woman’s Press Corps (IWPC). Speaking to Newslaundry, Aditi Tandon called for documenting the murder of every journalist, making a status report of trials and convictions and demanded action from governments.

A similar resolution was adopted by the Press Club—demanding action from respective governments of the states where journalists have been attacked. “We demand that concerned state governments take exemplary and time-bound action under Indian laws against those involved in killing and intimidating journalists.”

Sarvesh, a freelance photojournalist has been at the receiving end of attacks but said that nothing would mellow down her voice. However, journalist and professor Amit Sengupta, while speaking to Newslaundry said that it was both an “irony and a tragedy” that journalists have to meet only when someone is murdered.

Perhaps the “silent protest” on October 2 may see more faces from the civil society, political circles and of course the journalistic fraternity. But would that be the last time?
Here is the entire press conference: