UNI Office New Delhi: In a dramatic and unexpected development in independent India’s media landscape, the office of United News of India (UNI) was forcibly vacated late Friday evening. The premises, located at 9 Rafi Marg, had been the agency’s operational base for several decades.
Officials Enter Premises with Heavy Force
According to accounts from those present, a large team comprising government officials, around 300 personnel from the Delhi Police and paramilitary forces, along with some lawyers, entered the premises without prior notice. Employees were immediately asked to vacate the newsroom and leave the building.
Warnings of Forceful Action
Staff members said they were told that if they did not leave voluntarily, force would be used. Despite requests from employees for more time and appeals to wait for senior management to arrive, officials reportedly insisted on immediate evacuation.
Allegations of Rough Handling
Employees alleged that some staff, including women, were forcibly removed from their seats, dragged out, and pushed during the process. There were also claims of verbal abuse during the eviction.
Restricted Entry and Locked Premises
The police reportedly took control of the main gate, preventing journalists who were out on assignment and senior management from entering the building. As a result, many were unable to retrieve their personal belongings.
Questions Over Lack of Notice
Concerns have been raised over the manner in which the operation was carried out, particularly the absence of prior notice and the eviction being conducted without the presence of senior management.
Services Disrupted, Uncertainty Ahead
Following the sudden evacuation, UNI’s English, Hindi, and Urdu news services were halted, affecting more than 500 subscribers. The development has cast uncertainty over the future of the historic news agency, as well as the livelihoods of hundreds of employees and their families.
