Networking sites debate attack on photojournalist

TAHIR SYEED

Srinagar, Jan 8: The attack on Greater Kashmir lensman, Amaan Farooq, by DySP of Police after the Lal Chowk gunbattle has led to public criticism of the act on social networking sites.
While the video clipping of the incident has been uploaded on you-tube, the users of social networking site face book from across the globe have widely condemned the act on the site.
Amaan was shot at by DSP, Safdar Samoon, when he was discharging his professional duties at the encounter site minutes after it had ended. While the police official opened fire on Amaan, several of his colleagues caught the scene in their still and video cameras. A video has been posted on you tube website and is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XO_yIdyckQ.
People have posted several comments on the video, condemning the act and expressing sympathies with the photojournalist.
Several face book users have linked the you-tube video and stories about the incident to their face book accounts, which has evoked severe criticism.
“The assault on Greater Kashmir photojournalist, Amaan Farooq, is not attack on him but an attack on the entire journalistic fraternity who risk their lives while doing their professional duties,” this is the message from Kashmiri journalist, Zafar Mehdi, on face book.
A facebook user wrote on his page: “Even if the lensman had an altercation with the police officer, how is his firing on him justified. If this incident is taken lightly, there are chances that incidents like these may recur and become a norm.”
Another user said that the media men were being targeted for being pro-Kashmiri. “Attack on GK photojournalist is an example of this,” wrote Muhammad Shafi Bhat.
Carin Jodha Fischer wrote: “I have always said if I needed someone fearless to capture chilling moments, I would engage Amaan. Anybody else can do the artsy shots. Amaan covers chaos from the thicket of it without blinking an eyelid. Hope he gets better real soon.”
“Safdar Samoon has no right to be a police officer,” wrote many.
“Brutal and ruthless. Police has even put the likes of Gengiz Khan to shame,” comments Asif Saad on a video link on face book.