Journalism of Courage
Stepping up their protest against the arrest of three journalists for their alleged involvement with the UP Class XII Board paper leak, local journalists in Ballia on Sunday said that they will be filing a plea in a local court for the bail of the three media professionals. The journalists also said that they will also be submitting “electronic evidence to prove that the three journalists were framed by the Ballia district administration and the police”.
Police have so far arrested 52 people, including the three journalists, four school managers and three school principals, in connection with the leak of UP Board’s Class XII English question paper on March 30. Ballia District Inspector Of Schools (DIOS) Brijesh Mishra is also among those arrested in the case. Following the leak, the examination was cancelled in 24 districts and has been rescheduled to April 13.
Of the three journalists arrested in the case, two – Ajit Ojha and Digvijay Singh – worked with Amar Ujala, while the third Manoj Gupta was with Rashtriya Sahara.
While Amar Ujala has maintained that its reporters are “innocent”, Rashtriya Sahara is yet to comment on the arrest of its journalist.
Speaking to The Indian Express on Sunday, Amar Ujala’s Ballia Bureau Chief Sandeep Saurabh said, “We have recordings of the phone calls where the District Magistrate is heard asking Ajit Ojha for a copy of the leaked question paper, and assuring him that no action will be taken against him. We also have other evidence to prove that Digvijay Singh and Ajit Ojha were framed by the administration to save themselves.”
“We will be filing for the bail of the three journalists on Monday and will attach the electronic evidence along with it. Another question that we journalists would like to ask the administration is that if the three journalists were involved in the leak, why are the police not elaborating on their role,” said Saurabh.
Despite repeated calls and texts, Ballia DM Indra Vikram Singh could not be reached for comment. “The investigation is in progress. Till now, 52 arrests have been made in connection with the three cases lodged at different police stations in Ballia. The role of each and every person and the money trail are being looked into. Further details will be shared,” said Ballia SP Raj Karan Nayyar.
A senior police officer said that Ojha is an assistant teacher, and the police have evidence to prove that he was posted as an invigilator for the class XII examinations. “We will present all evidence in front of a court when the matter is heard,” said the officer.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, a group of local journalists organised a hawan for the “buddhi shuddhi” of the district administration and police at the Baleshwar temple in Ballia. “ The three journalists have been framed and they should be released, and if the police have any evidence against them, it should be made public,” said Karuna Sindhu Singh, member of Ballia Sanyukt Patrakar Sangharsh Morcha – an outfit that was formed to launch an agitation against the arrest of the three journalists.
The family members of the three journalists on Sunday appealed to the police for their release. Ajit’s father Tej Narayan Ojha said that his son was arrested for doing the job of a journalist. “My son has done no wrong,” said Tej Narayan on Sunday.
Digvijay Singh’s (65) daughter Preeti said, “My father wrote about the leak, and the administration was left red-faced, and hence, he was arrested. If the police have evidence against him, they should show it to us.”
