New Delhi, Mar. 26 : The Editors Guild of India today expressed its shock over the brutal murder of Anil Mazumdar, Editor the Assamese daily Aji on Tuesday night by gunmen.

In a statement, the Guild said that it has regularly expressed its deep apprehensions about the safety of editors and journalists in Assam as many of them function under the shadow of threats.

"Journalists and editors in Assam are pressurized by terrorist groups and sometimes by governmental agencies to write in favour of one group or other. Despite the threats editors and journalists have performed their duties," it said.

It said that some time ago, a senior editor in their capacity as a member of the Press Council of India had visited Gauhati and reported that the media in Assam was functioning at gun point.

"Editors had appraised the Chief Minister about the grave situation and sought governmental assurance for full protection for editors and journalists. But the brutal killing of Mazumdar exposes the failure of the government to provide security to editors," the Guild said.

The Guild demanded an intensive investigation into the murder of Mr. Mazumdar and also called upon the government, civil society and media establishment to provide foolproof security to journalists and editors. (ANI)