Enact stringent laws to curb attacks on scribes: Anna to PM

New Delhi, Jun 18 (PTI) In the wake of the killing of
crime reporter J Dey, Gandhian Anna Hazare today shot off a
letter to Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking
enacting of stringent laws to curb attacks on journalists.
Hazare said growing attacks on journalists, who are
considered to be the fourth pillar of democracy, is a serious
threat to India's democratic structure.
"Stringent laws will need to be enacted as soon as
possible to curb out such kind of heinous attacks," Hazare
said in the letter.
Dey, Mid Day's editor (special investigations), was
murdered in Mumbai last week by unidentified persons.
Taking lessons from the murder of Dey, Indian Law
Minister M Veerappa Moily has said it was planning to bring a
central law to protect journalists.
He said he has already directed the Legislative
Department to prepare a draft bill to protect journalists and
their properties, such as cameras.