A journalist from an Assam-based digital news portal was arrested after being detained for over nine hours by the police, officials said on Wednesday. Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, the chief reporter of The Cross Current and assistant general secretary of the Gauhati Press Club, was taken into custody after questioning the managing director of a cooperative bank over alleged financial irregularities.
Mozumder was summoned to the Panbazar police station on Tuesday afternoon and detained until after midnight, when he was formally arrested. He has been charged under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to criminal intimidation, as well as relevant sections of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The incident occurred during a protest by the Assam Jatiya Parishad’s youth wing, Jatiya Yuva Shakti (JYS), in front of the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd. Mozumder reportedly confronted the bank’s MD with questions regarding financial misconduct.
According to officials, an FIR was filed against Mozumder, but the complainant’s name has not been disclosed in the arrest information report.
The complaint said the journalist’s remarks were made to intentionally insult, humiliate and offend the complainant, who is a Scheduled Tribe (ST).
The police report mentions that the offence is cognisable and non-bailable as per the provisions of the BNS and the SC/ST Act, leading to his immediate arrest, the officials said.
The arrest was necessary to prevent the accused from influencing the complainant or witnesses, ensuring a fair investigation and avoiding any tampering with evidence, according to the police.
Mozumder, who also filed a complaint with the police which is yet to be registered, alleged that a video recording of the protest was deleted inside the MD’s chamber, and that he had also asked the scribe to ensure the demonstrations be stopped.
His wife and lawyer were reportedly allowed to enter the police station late on Tuesday, after repeated pleas that Mozumder needs medication. Several media organisations have condemned the arrest and protest programmes have been planned on Wednesday. Opposition parties like the Congress, Raijor Dal and the Assam Jatiya Parishad have also demanded his immediate release.
(With inputs from PTI)