Event Summary
On 22 October, 2025, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India issued a press release announcing that it has taken suo motu cognizance of three separate attacks on journalists that occurred in Kerala, Manipur, and Tripura in late August and September 2025. The assaults involved violent attacks during professional duties and resulted in hospitalisation for all victims. The NHRC has instructed the Directors General of Police from each state to submit detailed reports, emphasizing the necessity of protecting journalists to uphold democracy and transparency.
The Commission stated that the attacks reflected a declining trend in media safety and urged states to strengthen protections for journalists. Over the past year, there has been an upward trend in violence, intimidation, and harassment targeting media personnel in India, especially in politically sensitive and conflict-affected regions. These incidents reflect broader issues of threats to press freedom, civil rights, and the safety of civil society actors amid rising political tensions and societal unrest. Similar attacks have been reported periodically across different states, often with escalating severity, indicating an erosion of media safety norms and civic protections.
The NHRC’s action underscored the press’s vital role in upholding democracy and transparency and the need for accountability from authorities in preventing such recurring violence. It also reiterates the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding press freedom and demanding strong protection measures for media personnel. The Commission’s actions thus constitute an important opportunity for strengthening the respect for and protection of freedom of expression in India.
The recent attacks on journalists in Kerala, Manipur, and Tripura appear to be part of a concerning pattern rather than isolated incidents. Over the past year, there has been an upward trend in violence, intimidation, and harassment targeting media personnel in India, especially in politically sensitive and conflict-affected regions. These incidents reflect broader issues of threats to press freedom, civil rights, and the safety of civic actors amid rising political tensions and societal unrest. Similar attacks have been reported periodically across different states, often with escalating severity, indicating an erosion of media safety norms and civic protections. The NHRC’s intervention underscores the seriousness and systemic nature of this pattern, which demands sustained policy advocacy, legal reforms, and security measures to prevent future violence against journalists and safeguard democratic accountability.