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Punish Journo Harassers, Indian Women's Press Corps' Plea To TN Chief Minister

Recently, the case of a freelance journalist from Chennai getting threats for writing about illegal sand mining came to light. Following the harassment, the Indian Women's Press Corps (IPWC) has requested Tamil Nadu chief minister E. Palaniswami to take strict action against the harassers.

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Poorvi Gupta
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Sandhya Ravishankar

Recently, the case of a freelance journalist from Chennai getting threats for writing about illegal sand mining came to light. Following the harassment, the Indian Women's Press Corps (IPWC) has requested Tamil Nadu chief minister E. Palaniswami to take strict action against the harassers.

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Sandhya Ravishankar's investigative reports on illegal sand mining in the coastal region of Tamil Nadu were published by a digital media platform -- The Wire. The series included articles that busted the corruption and environmental exploitation plaguing Tamil Nadu’s sand mining industry for years now. She also wrote about VV Mineral, the largest sand mining company in India, and she profiled its owner S Vaikundarajan’s successive feat in the industry.

As the story caught fire, Sandhya started receiving calls warning her of grave action against her. The IPWC acknowledged the abuse and harassment that Sandhya was going through and came to her rescue. The organisation is “deeply disturbed by the harassment".

"We condemn the trolling and pressure put on her by interested parties so that she does not raise the issues of illegal mining and corruption," the IWPC said in a statement on Friday, reported Business Standard.

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The group insisted that the government should ensure that those bullying Sandhya are punished.

"The state should ensure her safety and well-being as also her right to continue to work fearlessly and independently," said the letter to the Chief Minister from IWPC president Sushma Ramachandran.

Besides IWPC, activists, NGOs and artistes are coming out in support of Sandhya. Currently, Chennai cops are guarding her house 24X7 to protect her and her family from any crime.

Picture credit- Twitter

Chennai women Freelance female journalist Sand mafia Sandhya Ravishankar
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