Manufacturing saleable news from Northeast India
Nava Thakuria
October 06, 2008
How much casualties make a news item sexy for a news agency? Does a series of explosions in a State capital not enough for saleable news in the international media market? Should media reports on deaths in a particular act of terrorism without verifying the facts that those casualties were no way related to that incident?
The series of questions one may ask to the media persons, where almost every one reported that the explosions, which took place in Agartala, the capital city of Tripura on October 1 evening had killed at 2 to 4 persons and wounded hundred others.
The international news agencies grabbed the opportunity to manufacture news out of the act of terrorism in the trouble torn Northeast India. Those agencies namely AP, Bloomberg, Reuters, AFP, AHN, UPI, IANS and ANI put the news in such a way that the readers (audience) around the world get convinced that the series of blasts in Agartala had killed at least 2 persons and injured hundreds.
But in reality, no body died due the explosions on that day. The Tripura Director General of Police Pranany Sahay confirmed next day that nobody was killed in Wednesday night's serial blasts in Agartala. Addressing the media persons in the capital city, Mr Sahay also informed that only 52 people got noticeable injuries in the incident. The State chief minister Manik Sarkar also came out with the statement that the Wednesday blasts did not have any casualty. He also announced that the government would take the responsibility for the treatment of the victims.
The agency reporters presented the news without convincing quotes from the police and the authority regarding the casualties. Some quoted hospital sources and some worked out with eye witnesses. The Associated Press reported (date line Gauhati, October 1, 2008) that 'a series of blasts exploded in crowded markets in India's remote northeast on Wednesday, killing two people and injuring at least 100'. The reporter quoted senior police official Shreyesh to narrate that 20 more victims were in critical condition. The rest of the news was simple narration of the incidents and also some light on the insurgents groups functioning in the state.
(Reference: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/)
The All Headline News reported (date line Agartala, October 1) that 'four bombs exploded at a bus stand, two marketplaces and a residential area in the northeastern Indian state of Tripura Wednesday killing four people and wounding 100 others'. The report did not have any quotes regarding the casualties except some narration of the incident.
(Reference: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7012504976)
The United Press International also reported in similar words. A news item with Agartala date line on October 1, described, "Four explosions in Agartala, India, Wednesday night left four people dead and 76 more injured, hospital sources said". Quoting The Times of India, it also added, "The state police confirmed just one death but said the toll likely would rise."
(Reference: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/10/01/UPI_NewsTrack_TopNews/UPI-61931222914036/)
The Bloomberg (with the bye line of Michael Heath), reported on October 2 that 'Indian police and forensic specialists are investigating five bomb blasts in the northeastern state of Tripura that killed at least two people and injured 100 when they ripped through a bus depot and crowded markets.
(Reference: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aPZfS4b_3Q18&refer=india)
The Reuters correspondent in Guwahati, quoted the Tripura police spokesperson Nepal Das on October 1 to describe that 'at least two people were killed and about 100 wounded when four bombs exploded' at Agartala. Amazingly, the same police officer (Mr Das) was seen during a news slot of a satellite television channel on October 2, where he declared that the police did not have any information regarding the casualties.
(Reference:http://www.france24.com/en/20081002-india-tripura-blast-northeast-terror-attack)
The Agence France-Presse also quoted the police spokesman to narrate the news (date line Guwahati, October 1). Claiming that the police spokesman responded through telephone from the town of incidence, the AFP reporter described that 'at least one person was killed and 100 more wounded Wednesday when five bombs ripped through busy markets and a bus station in a northeast Indian town'. All the four big markets of Agartala have been targeted-the official said, adding 100 people were wounded, 15 of them critically, it added.
The reporter then quoted the deputy Inspector General of Tripura police Nepal Das for information like 'at least two of the blasts were powerful' and 'most of the victims were shopping on the eve of Eid-al-Fitar, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan' with 'Hindus were also out in large numbers, stocking up for the annual religious festival of Durga Puja ---'.
(Reference: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iwiTPBsEYsRy95eMqkS-taxZ0Ckw)
The Indo Asian News Service (date line Agartala, October 1) also reported that 'at least two people were killed and about 100 injured when four powerful bombs ----, the police said'. It also quoted the police spokesman Mr Das in a different paragraph to narrate that the first bomb went off at the popular Maharajganj Bazar (Gol Bazar) at about 7 p.m., followed by three near-simultaneous blasts, one at the G.B. Market, one at the Radhanagar public bus stand and the last in Krishnanagar locality.
The same agency (IANS) reported again on October 3 from Agartala, where it remained silent about the causalities. The news said, "Life returned to normal in this capital city of Tripura less than 48 hours after serial blasts left about 100 injured, and the state government announced a cash reward for anyone providing clues about those responsible for the blasts."
(Reference: http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/25509.htm)
Similarly the Asian News International reported (date line Agartala, October 2) that 'terror struck Agartala ----within 30 minutes in crowded market places and a bus stand'.
Two persons were confirmed dead and about 76 injured in the five blasts of which at least two of the blasts were powerful. The injured were taken to the nearby hospital. According to sources in the hospital some of the injured are in critical condition, it added.
The Indian news agency Press Trust of India also did the same mistake. A report by PTI (date line Agartala, October 2) continued to present the facts as usual while saying 'a day after five back-to-back low intensity blasts rocked this city killing at least two people and wounding 100 others, authorities beefed up security throughout Tripura and sealed the 856 km-long Indo-Bangla border'.
It also added that a high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, reviewed the law and order situation. The meeting was attended among others by Chief Secretary Shashi Prakash, DGP Pranay Sahaya and top officials of all of the para-military forces like BSF, CRPF, TSR and Assam Rifles.
Some metro dailies, published from Kolkata and New Delhi also reported deaths (one to five) in Agartala blasts. The website of CNN-IBN highlighted that ´there were five blasts on Wednesday evening (in Agartala) killing two people and injuring 70 others´. Shamefully the Doordarshan, India´s national news channel, also parroted the same version of news for the whole day of October 2. The news readers read it for many times and the information was also flashed and scrolled continuously in DD News.
However, the local newspapers of Tripura were restrained while reporting the incident. They did not report about any casualty. Daily Desher Katha, a prominent Bengali daily from Agartala reported only about the injured persons. Speaking to this writer from the news desk of Daily Desher Katha, a senior journalist clarified that the reporters got confused with other dead bodies in the same hospital, where blast victims were taken for treatment.
"I personally come to know that one patient died on Wednesday night, which some reporters might thought as a blast victim. But he was admitted in the hospital for other ailment and was no way related to the series of explosions," the journalist clarified while talking to this writer from Agartala. He was annoyed with those news agency reporters, who went on reporting without verifying the facts that 2 to 4 persons were killed in the series of blasts.
Now the question that arises whether the responsible agency reporters should make such news out of a tragic incident with distorted facts? Or is there an inherent design to malign the entire Northeast India that it is nothing but a land of deaths and destruction? Will anybody be benefited by such unfair news coverage, except those terrorists who had already gained extra dividends out of the brutal act!
The series of questions one may ask to the media persons, where almost every one reported that the explosions, which took place in Agartala, the capital city of Tripura on October 1 evening had killed at 2 to 4 persons and wounded hundred others.
The international news agencies grabbed the opportunity to manufacture news out of the act of terrorism in the trouble torn Northeast India. Those agencies namely AP, Bloomberg, Reuters, AFP, AHN, UPI, IANS and ANI put the news in such a way that the readers (audience) around the world get convinced that the series of blasts in Agartala had killed at least 2 persons and injured hundreds.
But in reality, no body died due the explosions on that day. The Tripura Director General of Police Pranany Sahay confirmed next day that nobody was killed in Wednesday night's serial blasts in Agartala. Addressing the media persons in the capital city, Mr Sahay also informed that only 52 people got noticeable injuries in the incident. The State chief minister Manik Sarkar also came out with the statement that the Wednesday blasts did not have any casualty. He also announced that the government would take the responsibility for the treatment of the victims.
The agency reporters presented the news without convincing quotes from the police and the authority regarding the casualties. Some quoted hospital sources and some worked out with eye witnesses. The Associated Press reported (date line Gauhati, October 1, 2008) that 'a series of blasts exploded in crowded markets in India's remote northeast on Wednesday, killing two people and injuring at least 100'. The reporter quoted senior police official Shreyesh to narrate that 20 more victims were in critical condition. The rest of the news was simple narration of the incidents and also some light on the insurgents groups functioning in the state.
(Reference: http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/10/)
The All Headline News reported (date line Agartala, October 1) that 'four bombs exploded at a bus stand, two marketplaces and a residential area in the northeastern Indian state of Tripura Wednesday killing four people and wounding 100 others'. The report did not have any quotes regarding the casualties except some narration of the incident.
(Reference: http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7012504976)
The United Press International also reported in similar words. A news item with Agartala date line on October 1, described, "Four explosions in Agartala, India, Wednesday night left four people dead and 76 more injured, hospital sources said". Quoting The Times of India, it also added, "The state police confirmed just one death but said the toll likely would rise."
(Reference: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2008/10/01/UPI_NewsTrack_TopNews/UPI-61931222914036/)
The Bloomberg (with the bye line of Michael Heath), reported on October 2 that 'Indian police and forensic specialists are investigating five bomb blasts in the northeastern state of Tripura that killed at least two people and injured 100 when they ripped through a bus depot and crowded markets.
(Reference: http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aPZfS4b_3Q18&refer=india)
The Reuters correspondent in Guwahati, quoted the Tripura police spokesperson Nepal Das on October 1 to describe that 'at least two people were killed and about 100 wounded when four bombs exploded' at Agartala. Amazingly, the same police officer (Mr Das) was seen during a news slot of a satellite television channel on October 2, where he declared that the police did not have any information regarding the casualties.
(Reference:http://www.france24.com/en/20081002-india-tripura-blast-northeast-terror-attack)
The Agence France-Presse also quoted the police spokesman to narrate the news (date line Guwahati, October 1). Claiming that the police spokesman responded through telephone from the town of incidence, the AFP reporter described that 'at least one person was killed and 100 more wounded Wednesday when five bombs ripped through busy markets and a bus station in a northeast Indian town'. All the four big markets of Agartala have been targeted-the official said, adding 100 people were wounded, 15 of them critically, it added.
The reporter then quoted the deputy Inspector General of Tripura police Nepal Das for information like 'at least two of the blasts were powerful' and 'most of the victims were shopping on the eve of Eid-al-Fitar, which marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan' with 'Hindus were also out in large numbers, stocking up for the annual religious festival of Durga Puja ---'.
(Reference: http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iwiTPBsEYsRy95eMqkS-taxZ0Ckw)
The Indo Asian News Service (date line Agartala, October 1) also reported that 'at least two people were killed and about 100 injured when four powerful bombs ----, the police said'. It also quoted the police spokesman Mr Das in a different paragraph to narrate that the first bomb went off at the popular Maharajganj Bazar (Gol Bazar) at about 7 p.m., followed by three near-simultaneous blasts, one at the G.B. Market, one at the Radhanagar public bus stand and the last in Krishnanagar locality.
The same agency (IANS) reported again on October 3 from Agartala, where it remained silent about the causalities. The news said, "Life returned to normal in this capital city of Tripura less than 48 hours after serial blasts left about 100 injured, and the state government announced a cash reward for anyone providing clues about those responsible for the blasts."
(Reference: http://www.sindhtoday.net/south-asia/25509.htm)
Similarly the Asian News International reported (date line Agartala, October 2) that 'terror struck Agartala ----within 30 minutes in crowded market places and a bus stand'.
Two persons were confirmed dead and about 76 injured in the five blasts of which at least two of the blasts were powerful. The injured were taken to the nearby hospital. According to sources in the hospital some of the injured are in critical condition, it added.
The Indian news agency Press Trust of India also did the same mistake. A report by PTI (date line Agartala, October 2) continued to present the facts as usual while saying 'a day after five back-to-back low intensity blasts rocked this city killing at least two people and wounding 100 others, authorities beefed up security throughout Tripura and sealed the 856 km-long Indo-Bangla border'.
It also added that a high-level meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, reviewed the law and order situation. The meeting was attended among others by Chief Secretary Shashi Prakash, DGP Pranay Sahaya and top officials of all of the para-military forces like BSF, CRPF, TSR and Assam Rifles.
Some metro dailies, published from Kolkata and New Delhi also reported deaths (one to five) in Agartala blasts. The website of CNN-IBN highlighted that ´there were five blasts on Wednesday evening (in Agartala) killing two people and injuring 70 others´. Shamefully the Doordarshan, India´s national news channel, also parroted the same version of news for the whole day of October 2. The news readers read it for many times and the information was also flashed and scrolled continuously in DD News.
However, the local newspapers of Tripura were restrained while reporting the incident. They did not report about any casualty. Daily Desher Katha, a prominent Bengali daily from Agartala reported only about the injured persons. Speaking to this writer from the news desk of Daily Desher Katha, a senior journalist clarified that the reporters got confused with other dead bodies in the same hospital, where blast victims were taken for treatment.
"I personally come to know that one patient died on Wednesday night, which some reporters might thought as a blast victim. But he was admitted in the hospital for other ailment and was no way related to the series of explosions," the journalist clarified while talking to this writer from Agartala. He was annoyed with those news agency reporters, who went on reporting without verifying the facts that 2 to 4 persons were killed in the series of blasts.
Now the question that arises whether the responsible agency reporters should make such news out of a tragic incident with distorted facts? Or is there an inherent design to malign the entire Northeast India that it is nothing but a land of deaths and destruction? Will anybody be benefited by such unfair news coverage, except those terrorists who had already gained extra dividends out of the brutal act!
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