Police action against scribe draws widespread criticism

A Correspondent

NAGAON, July 1: Nagaon Police allegedly thrashed a journalist, an incident that has severely drawn sharp reaction from all sections of the people of the district. According to the family members of the victim journalist, electronic media journalist Apol Das on Thursday night was discussing something with one of his friends on the roadside at Haiborgaon Islampatty and at that time, a police patrolling team led by SI Muktar Ahmed of Haiborgaon TOP reached the spot and without any reason allegedly scolded him. The patrolling team comprising some CRPF personnel subsequently leaped at him and assaulted him physically due to which he allegedly sustained severe injuries. Later on, the patrolling team picked him up and brought him to Haiborgaon TOP. Interestingly, in the TOP, in front of the officer in-charge, SI Ahmed allegedly assaulted him once again although he told the police that he was a journalist working for a local cable channel.

The role of the IC of Haiborgaon TOP in this connection was also interesting. When he came to know that Das was a journalist, he allegedly did nothing, rather influenced the officer on duty to thrash him more. Later, the family members came to the TOP and released Das. Soon after release, Apol Das lodged an FIR in Nagaon PS and the OC has already registered a case against the Sub-inspector Ahmed. On the other hand, SI Ahmed also lodged another FIR against Das in Nagaon PS.

Following the incident, various organizations like district unit of AAJU and Nagaon Press Club condemned the incident and appealed to the State Government to stop any kind of attack on the journalist community. The district unit of All Assam Journalists’ Union on Friday afternoon approached the Superintendent of Police, Sankarbrata Raimedhi and submitted a memorandum. In the memorandum, the organization demanded immediate departmental action against the alleged accused officer and the officer in-charge of Haiborgaon TOP and also sought justice for the journalist. SP Raimedhi assured that the police would first inquire about the entire incident and on the basis of that enquiry, would take further action.