GUWAHATI: The detention of Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, a prominent journalist, has sparked significant outrage following the police’s refusal to allow entry to journalists and his attorney at the Panbazar Police Station in Guwahati, Assam.
Additionally, the police confiscated Mozumder’s mobile phone, effectively severing all means of communication during his custody. The Guwahati Press Club has vehemently condemned this action, calling for the immediate release of Mozumder. President Sushmita Goswami and General Secretary Sanjay Ray expressed that the arrest of a journalist while fulfilling his professional responsibilities is “extremely troubling” and urged the authorities to respect press freedom.
Mozumder’s detention occurred after he questioned Dambaru Saikia, the Managing Director of Apex Bank, during a protest outside the bank’s headquarters. He was reporting on a demonstration organized by Jatiya Yuva Shakti, which was addressing allegations of corruption within Apex Bank.
Bank officials opted to involve the police rather than respond to Mozumder’s inquiries, resulting in his detention and subsequent arrest around midnight on Tuesday. This event has sparked significant backlash from the media community, with many perceiving it as an effort to intimidate journalists. Mozumder has become a focal point in the escalating call for press freedom and accountability from law enforcement.
Media organizations and civil rights advocates are demanding clarity regarding the police’s actions, expressing concerns about the safety of journalists in Assam. According to police reports, he was arrested under Section 351(2) of the UNS in conjunction with Section 3[1](r) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (Amendment 2015).
