New Delhi: The Supreme Court has granted interim protection from arrest to two Madhya Pradesh-based journalists who allege they were assaulted by Bhind police officials over their reporting on illegal sand mining in the Chambal region.

A bench of Justices P.K. Mishra and Manmohan dismissed the journalists’ plea filed under Article 32 of the Constitution but allowed them to approach the Madhya Pradesh High Court within two weeks. The court clarified that the journalists shall not be arrested until the High Court considers the matter.

The petition was filed by Shashikant Jatav and Amarkant Singh Chouhan, who claimed they were physically assaulted by state police personnel in connection with their coverage of illegal sand mining activities in Bhind district.

During the hearing, counsel for the petitioners submitted that they feared for their lives and sought protection from arrest for two weeks. The court refused to entertain the plea directly but granted the interim protection while directing the petitioners to move the appropriate High Court.