Following reports of Asianet News Chief Coordinating Editor Sindhu Sooryakumar receiving thousands of threatening telephone calls, a US media watchdog has called for an investigation into the incident.
"Indian authorities should take all measures necessary to protect Sindhu Sooryakumar in the face of the abhorrent threats against her," said Sumit Galhotra, Senior Research Associate of Committee to Protect Journalist Asia Programme.
"Journalists should feel free to raise questions and foster debate, including during times of controversy, without fear of reprisal," he said yesterday.
News anchor Sooryakumar received thousands of threatening phone calls following a broadcast she hosted last week, in which she moderated a discussion on whether celebrating Mahishashura Jayanthi could be considered an act of treason. Apparently someone had spread the rumour on social media that Sindhu had found no fault with Durga being termed a sex-worker.
Speaking to The News Minute, Sindhu said that almost 98% of the people who called her up and abused her had actually not seen the discussion on television.
Sindhu is a very popular face on Asianet News with a huge fan base for her mature and hard-hitting presentation style.