A CORRESPONDENT
DHEKIAJULI: In a strong show of solidarity, the Dhekiajuli Press Club, alongside local organizations, staged a one-hour sit-in protest against the arrest of Journalist Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar of The Crosscurrent. The demonstration, held in front of the Dhekiajuli Co-District Commissioner’s Office at 1 PM, condemned the police action and demanded Mazumdar’s unconditional release.
Chanting slogans like ‘Release Journalist Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar,’ ‘Stop suppressing press freedom,’ and ‘Ensure media independence,’ journalists and activists voiced their opposition to what they called an attack on press freedom. They also criticized the government, holding placards denouncing alleged suppression of independent journalism.
The protest was led by Dhekiajuli Press Club president Bhagawan Baishya, working president Bimaljyoti Nath, and secretary Haren Bhumij. The demonstration also saw participation from prominent figures like Senior Journalist Tapan Sen Gupta, All Axom Lekhima Samaroh Senior Activist Polima Chetia Basumatary, Assam Press Correspondents’ Union (APCU) Sonitpur District President Narayan Foyel, Sonitpur District Students’ Union Education Secretary Shankar Das, AASA Sonitpur District President Anand Tati, AMSU leader Altaf Alam, Journalist Polima Chetia, and former Adivasi Students’ Union Vice-President Melkhach Tapp.
Addressing the gathering, the speakers stressed the importance of a free press in a democracy and criticized the arrest as an attempt to intimidate journalists. They demanded that the government ensure a secure environment for media professionals to carry out their duties without fear.
Following the demonstration, the Dhekiajuli Press Club submitted a memorandum through the Circle Officer, Dhekiajuli Revenue Circle Nayan Jyoti Pathak, ACS, to the Chief Minister of Assam, urging immediate intervention and the release of Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar. The Circle Officer Nayan Jyoti Pathak assured the protesters that he will send the memorandum to the Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma immediately.
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