AGARTALA, Dec 17 (TIWN): Northeast state Tripura has been experiencing the brutal ever attacks on contemporary free-speech of common men and press freedom under 20 months of BJP era since the year of its merger with India. Uncountable media houses, websites, social media were officially, unofficially shutdowned by hook & crook , whereas many yet surviving in exchange of either compromising or putting all energies to make them survive. TV channels as ‘Channel Din Raat’, ‘Akash Tripura’, ‘Channel Mrinalini’, ‘Halla Bol’ are almost disappeared, although in YouTube few have been continuing news at loss and non-profit. Tripurainfoway.com webmedia, Daily-Desher-Katha newspaper are the two survivors which have legally fought against BJP’s intolerance and still existing in the battle.

Multi thousand webmedia under Modi Govt however shutdowned allover India and Tripura too remained unspare of saffron-technique of butchery of democracy after people elected first ever BJP Govt here in the state. â€‹

Many journalists were beaten by ruling party activists, reported in media.

Total shutting down of media without causes, illegal attacks on Editor and journalists, filing false cases against media persons to opposition was never seen in such a vast number in Tripura’s total history in compare to the only 19 months old Govt. Nodoubt mastermind credit for all attacks from Daily Desher Katha newspaper to TIWN were blueprinted in none other than Law Minister Ratanlal Nath’s brain who just like a mafia threatened to shutdown 40 years old newspaper by calling a press conference and manipulated District Magistrate led hearing which interfered in the process of RNI registration of Daily Desher Kath newspaper. Total 11 false cases have been filed against TIWN Editor Saumen Sarkar and his old parents of 72 and 82 years were harassing continuously till High Court put an objection to the torture on senior citizens.

India has dropped two places on a global press freedom index to be ranked 140th out of 180 countries in the annual Reporters Without Borders analysis released on Thursday, with the lead up to the ongoing Indian general elections flagged as a particularly dangerous time for journalists.

The World Press Freedom Index 2019', topped by Norway, finds an increased sense of hostility towards journalists across the world, with violent attacks in India leading to at least six Indian journalists being killed in the line of their work last year.

"Violence against journalists including police violence, attacks by Maoist fighters and reprisals by criminal groups or corrupt politicians is one of the most striking characteristics of the current state of press freedom in India. At least six Indian journalists were killed in connection with their work in 2018. A number of doubts surround a seventh case, the index noted.

These murders highlighted the many dangers that Indian journalists face, especially those working for non-English-language media outlets in rural areas, it said. Attacks against journalists by supporters of ruling BJP increased in the run-up to general elections in the spring of 2019, the analysis alleged.

Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF), or Reporters Without Borders, is a non-profit organisation that works to document and combat attacks on journalists around the world. In its 2019 index, RSF finds that hatred of journalists has degenerated into violence, contributing to an increase in fear around the world.