The media fraternity in Arunachal Pradesh continued its pen-down stir with no newspapers hitting the stands for the third consecutive day on Tuesday in protest against the government's failure to nab the culprit involved in an attack on journalists.
Though the person involved had been identified as the personal security officer (PSO) of Lok Sabha MP Takam Sanjoy, the police are yet to arrest him.
The district magistrate on Monday issued non-bailable warrant against the PSO who was supposed to surrender before the police.
Two lady journalists Appu Gapak and Nyapi Bomjen working with 'The Sentinel Arunachal' were allegedly assaulted by Sanjoy on December 12 when they were gathering news of an accident.
Under the aegis of Arunachal Press Club (APC) and Arunachal Pradesh Union Of Working Journalists (APUWJ) the press fraternity had served an ultimatum of 48 hours to the government to arrest the culprit.
On December 16 scribes had staged a dharna in front of the district magistrate office and the police station at Naharlagun.
Earlier, media houses had blacked out the front pages of all the newspapers for three consecutive days and sought public support in the form of donations to fight a legal battle against the culprit.
"We would continue with our pen-down strike till the culprit is nabbed and will carry out a protest rally tomorrow starting from chief minister's residence to Raj Bhavan," APC President Jarpum Gamlin informed.
Complaints have also been lodged with the union information and broadcasting minister Ambika Soni and the Press Council of India.
Meanwhile, the state unit of BJP condemned the assault on journalists and demanded resignation of home minister Tako Dabi for failing to nab the culprit.