A journalist who allegedly sustained “severe head injuries” after being hit by a tear gas shell while covering the farmers’ protest has moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court against Haryana police officials, as per Livelaw. 

News outlet Punjab Sawera’s Neil Bhalinder alleged in his plea that he was covering the protests within Punjab’s jurisdiction when a tear gas shell allegedly hurled by Haryana police officials hit him on February 13. He has sought an FIR against the police officers responsible. 

The plea claimed many journalists have been subjected to “physical violence and gunshot wounds inflicted by the Haryana police authorities” at the Shambhu border near Haryana’s Ambala.

It alleged that despite “being within the territorial jurisdiction of Punjab”, the border has been witness to several instances of “violence perpetrated by the Haryana police”. 

The journalist argued that attacks on journalists are a violation of freedom of press under Article 19(1)(a), and questioned the authority and accountability of the Haryana police over its alleged action within Punjab jurisdiction.

The petitioner sought directives to the police to stop the alleged “unwarranted assault” at Shambhu border.

Newslaundry has been at ground zero since their agitation began. Watch this video on their demands, the police action, and the approach taken by the centre.

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