India: The Hind Samachar newspaper group, including the names of its political analysts or commentators (1991-1997)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 February 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | IND31300.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, India: The Hind Samachar newspaper group, including the names of its political analysts or commentators (1991-1997), 1 February 1999, IND31300.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6abe830.html [accessed 30 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The Hind Samachar group of newspapers, which is based in Jalandhar and publishes the vernacular Punjab Kesri, Hind Samachar and Jagbani (The Tribune 4 Jan. 1999; The Hindu 21 Nov. 1997; ibid. 5 Jan. 1998; Toronto Star 30 Nov. 1998), is one of the most powerful newspaper groups in Punjab (The Hindu 9 Feb. 1998; The Tribune 4 Jan. 1999). Its chief adversary is the largest Punjabi daily, The Ajit, with which it has carried on a longstanding rivalry (ibid.; The Hindu 9 Feb. 1998).
According to a report in The Toronto Star, "three generations of the proprietors/ editors of Hind Samachar ... have been gunned down by terrorists in the last 15 years" (30 Nov. 1998). One such incident was the 9 September 1981 murder of Lala Jagat Narain, the founder/editor of the Hind Samachar group, who was targeted by "Punjab militants ... for his open[ly] critical stance against terrorism" (The Hindu 21 Nov. 1997; ibid. 5 Jan. 1998). His murder was reportedly one of the earliest attacks carried out by Punjab militants (The Hindu 21 Nov. 1997). An "associate" of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale, Nachhattar Singh Rode, who was given a life sentence for the murder of Narain, was released from Sangrur district high-security jail on 20 or 21 November 1997 after 16 years imprisonment (ibid.; ibid. 5 Jan. 1998; The Statesman 20 Nov. 1997).
The current editor of the Hind Samachar Group, Mr. Vijay Kumar Chopra, sits on board of directors of the Press Trust of India (PTI) and was recently elected vice-president of the Indian Newspaper Society (INS) for 1998-1999 (The Tribune 19 Sept. 1998; The Hindustan Times 18 Sept. 1998; ibid. 24 Sept. 1998; The Tribune 4 Jan. 1999). One report indicates the Hind Samachar group organizes functions for the Shaheed Parivar fund, which distributes aid to victims of terrorist violence in Punjab (The Hindustan Times 9 Nov. 1998).
On 4 January 1999 the Chandigarh-based daily The Tribune reported that the Hind Samachar group and the rival Ajit were involved in a "media battle of sorts," having taken different sides in a quarrel between various leaders of the ruling Akali Dal and religious Panthic leaders. Ajit editor Barjinder Singh Hamdard reportedly accused Chopra of "actively conspiring with the rivals of [Punjab] Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to destabilise the government," charges the Hind Samachar group editor denied (ibid.). According to The Tribune report the two newspapers have a "long history of daily battles" that contributed toward communalization of the situation in Punjab, although in recent years they had stopped their feud (ibid.).
Information on the Hind Samachar group's political analysts or commentators could not be found among the sources consulted.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
The Hindu [Madras]. 9 February 1998. "India: Nervousness Sends Gujral on Overdrive?" (NEXIS)
_____. 5 January 1998. Sarabjit Pandher. "India: A Positive Fall-Out." (NEXIS)
_____. 21 November 1997. "India: Rode Released from Jail." (NEXIS)
The Hindustan Times [New Delhi]. 9 November 1998. Chander Suta Dogra. "Umranangal, a Crusader Against Terrorism." [Internet]
_____. 24 September 1998. "PTI to Offer Services Worldwide on Satellite." [Internet]
_____. 18 September 1998. "Mathew Elected President of INS." [Internet]
The Statesman [New Delhi]. 20 November 1997. "Convict in Lala Jagat Narain Case Freed." (NEXIS)
The Toronto Star. 30 November 1998. "Killing Journalists Nothing New in India." (NEXIS)
The Tribune [Chandigarh]. 4 January 1999. Gobind Thukral. "Akali Feud Turns into Media Battle." [Internet]
_____. 19 September 1998. "Mathew Elected INS Chief." [Internet]
Additional Sources Consulted
Encyclopedia of the Third World. 1992
The Europa World Year Book 1998. 1998
Bombay Telephone Directory. 1998. [Internet]
New Delhi Telephone Directory. 1998. [Internet]
The World's News Media. 1991
Electronic sources: Internet, LEXIS-NEXIS, IRB databases.
