Atanu Bhuyan's resignation is good news for journalism and the people of Assam. There is another good news, the transfer of SSP Apurba Jibon Baruah. — Akhil Gogoi

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, July 17: RTI activist and Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS) leader Akhil Gogoi has termed Atanu Bhuyan’s resignation as good news for journalism and the people of Assam.

Addressing a press conference in Guwahati on Tuesday, Akhil Gogoi said, “Atanu Bhuyan’s resignation is good news for journalism and the people of Assam. There is another good news, the transfer of SSP Apurba Jibon Baruah.”

Gogoi further said, “After hearing the justification that Atanu Bhuyan gave for his resignation, it is evident that it was not a journalist speaking but a shrewd politician. He resigned simply to escape from the clutches of law.”

Akhil Gogoi said that he had always been claiming that News Live was the channel of a powerful minister and today, his claims had been proved right. “I had gone to Odisha to collect information about who owned News Live and today Atanu Bhuyan himself said that the channel is owned by Himanta Biswa Sarma,” said Gogoi.

The RTI activist said that the molestation incident might have been orchestrated by Gaurav Jyoti Neog, Atanu Bhuyan and News Live managing editor Syed Zarir Hussain to create unrest in the State. “The probe should look into this aspect. Also, Atanu Bhuyan might have wanted to project a poor image of the Chief Minister by uploading the video footage on Youtube. This angle should also be probed,” said Gogoi. He added, “Zarir Hussain talks about social responsibility and tries to portray an extraordinary image about himself. He should have been the first to resign,” said Gogoi.

He further said, “I handed over the raw footage to the DGP which sustantiates my claim that Gaurav Jyoti Neog had instigated the mob to molest the girl. I met the DGP the next day and asked him why Gaurav had not been arrested. The DGP said that this was a high-profile case and hence they had to act cautiously.” (sick!)

The RTI activist added, “I do not have much faith in the forensic experts of Assam. They have given wrong reports in many cases in the past. In this case too if they try to do something like that, they will not be spared and we will get the footage examined by other forensic experts.”

He said, “Yesterday SSP Apurba Jibon Baruah was transferred and Dibrugarh SP Arabinda Kalita was transferred as  Guwahati city SSP. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi then changed his decision and made AP Tiwari the new Guwahati SSP. He also handed over the case to the Crime Investigation Department (CID). This proves that the Chief Minister is taking this issue seriously.”

The RTI activist also admitted that the raw footage of the molestation incident had been handed over to him by someone from News Live. “Many people in News Live did not want the footage to be aired,” he said.