Opposition, journalist bodies condemn arrest of NTV journalists

HYDERABAD

Senior leaders of the Bharat Rashtra Samiti (BRS) and writer associations connected Wednesday criticised the late-night detention of NTV journalists, alleging that the Revanth Reddy-led Congress authorities was targeting the media and curbing dissent.

Three journalists associated with the Telugu quality transmission were taken into custody by the Telangana constabulary precocious connected Tuesday (January 13, 2026) nighttime successful transportation with a arguable programme aired by the transmission involving a pistillate IAS serviceman and a State Minister.

Terming the detentions illegal, erstwhile Minister Singireddy Niranjan Reddy alleged that the authorities was intimidating not lone journalists but besides unemployed youth, farmers, students and retired employees, portion they rise demands.

BRS Balkonda MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy besides powerfully criticised the constabulary action, stating that detaining journalists astatine nighttime was an affront to the antiauthoritarian system. He said that raids connected media persons’ homes and arrests during festivals were unwarranted, peculiarly erstwhile the instrumentality provided for issuance of notices and summoning for questioning.

At a property conscionable astatine Telangana Bhavan, different BRS leaders echoed akin views. Former MLA Methuku Anand accused the authorities of resorting to diversionary tactics by targeting journalists portion ignoring allegations against Congress leaders and Ministers. He questioned the selective constitution of Special Investigation Teams (SITs) and alleged that complaints against ruling enactment leaders and their associates were being overlooked.

CPI MLC Nellikanti Satyam condemned the amerciable apprehension of journalists. He said helium powerfully condemned the raids connected journalists’ homes successful the mediate of the nighttime and their apprehension without issuing anterior notice. He said it was incorrect to dainty journalists arsenic criminals and demanded their contiguous release.

Meanwhile, the Telangana State Video Journalists Association (TVJA) powerfully condemned the detention of NTV journalists successful the mediate of the night. In a statement, the relation said that if determination were issues with quality reporting, the constabulary should person issued notices and sought explanations alternatively of making arrests “like criminals”. While reiterating its absorption to mendacious reporting, the relation said it was arsenic opposed to amerciable arrests and harassment of journalists and demanded contiguous merchandise of the detained media personnel.