Journalists to get identity badges in Goa

PANAJI - Journalists in Goa will get special identity badges while covering law and order situations, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said Wednesday.

Kamat was speaking to reporters after announcing a Rs.50,000-compensation to a press photographer Soiru Komarpant of vernacular daily Gomantak. Komarpant, in a complaint to the state administration in 2008, had claimed that he was singled out and beaten by policemen while covering a communal riot in Marago, 35 km from here.

“In future accredited journalists and crime reporters covering law and order situations in Goa will be given special identification such as badges and belt. Such identification features will be made available with the magistrate present at the site,” Kamat said.

“In order to avoid re-occurrence of such incidents, journalists should wear such badges without fail, when their security is under threat covering law and order situations,” Kamat said.

–Indo Asian News Service