Date:26/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/26/stories/2008112659991100.htm

National

Rs. 3-lakh ex gratia for slain journalist’s family

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on Tuesday announced an ex gratia grant of Rs. 3 lakh for the family of Jagajit Saikia, a journalist with a local daily, Aamar Asom who was killed on Saturday. Mr. Gogoi said Saikia’s wife would be given a government job. Asserting his government was concerned about the lives of both journalists and citizens; Mr. Gogoi assured that the culprits would be nabbed soon.

Meanwhile, journalists here demanded a CBI inquiry into Saikia’s killing, besides insurance and a special law for their protection in the State, where 20 scribes have been killed in the past 17 years. The journalists held a meeting at the Guwahati Press Club and took out a procession to the Deputy commissioner’s office to submit a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil. Protests were also held in Dibrugarh, Tinsukia, Jorhat, Sonitpur and Sibsagar. — PTI