"Journalists are social soldiers but at least army soldiers have a gun to defend themselves with..."
It's May Day in Manchester, and on the Manchester and Salford National Union of Journalists stall stands Amitt Bhatt handing out flyers for the Exiled Journalists Fundraiser next Saturday 13th May.
The flyer is titled 'India In Danger Of Becoming A Killing Field of Journalists', highlighting how investigative journalist, Umesh Rajput, was shot dead by two masked men on motorbikes, and how the assassination followed the murder of six other journalist in 2015.
The International Federation of Journalists, the National Union of Journalists India and the Indian Union of Journalists all state there is "a culture of violence against the media in the country". Amitt Bhatt knows this more than most, having been subject to this 'violence' before fleeing to the UK and ending up in Manchester.
Amitt was tortured and beaten for 38 days at the hands of the Indian authorities. The torture included being forced to drink petrol and electric shocks across his head. His 'crime'? Writing articles and books about corruption and social injustice in India, and on human rights abuses in Kashmir.
Although Amitt has been here for three years, the experience has left physical and mental scars...
"It's extremely difficult to live with" he explains "It's a very serious strain which I try to camouflage in my own ways but the reality is that it's always around. I'm still grappling with the health problems that came out because of the torture...my memory is filled up; you feel like you're pulling a 100lb truck with your teeth...it takes me quite a long time to get out of bed every day and to come back to life..."
Together with the physical and mental pain from the beating and torture, the Indian Government is currently trying to ban two of Amitt's books with a court prosecution, while the British Government is actually...insanely...trying to deport him back to the country. His asylum appeal hearing is on 18th May.
The stress is unimaginable... "When people say they're stressed because the coffee machine has broken down, I laugh at them" smiles Amitt ruefully.
The investigative journalist, Umesh Rajput, who was murdered in India by the masked motorcycle assassins, was a friend of Amitt.
"Journalists are social soldiers but at least army soldiers have a gun to defend themselves with" he says "Wipe out journalists and we go back to medieval times. Our strength is public support..."
Next Saturday is the chance to show real support for journalists, like Amitt, who are telling the truth throughout the world and getting tortured, beaten and exiled for their troubles.
The Fundraiser For Exiled Journalists features music from Kirsty McGee, The Quiet Loner and Weimar, plus comedians Trev Meaney and Genevieve Walsh, and a raffle with the prize of family tickets for FC United.
Fundraiser For Exiled Journalists
Saturday 13th May 7:30pm
The Waldorf
12 Gore Street
Manchester M1 3AQ (near Piccadilly Station)
Tickets £5 waged/£3 low waged or £10 solidarity click here to book
Also see the Facebook event page - click here
Sign the petition to support Amitt - click here
For more details of the Network of Exiled Journalists click here
Main photo shows Amitt Bhatt with the NUJ's Conrad Bower from The Meteor there's a really good interview with Amitt by Conrad in The Meteor click here
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