Ensure security to working journalists, ACYPA demands

A CORRESPONDENT

LAKHIMPUR: Anti-Corruption Youth Power, Assam (ACYPA) has demanded Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and the State Government to ensure all kinds of security to the working journalists of the State. The organization has also demanded to arrest the culprits who were involved in the alleged murder of Kakopothar journalist Parag Bhuyan and in physical harassment on Mirja journalists Milan Mahanta and to reward them exemplary punishment to them.

The organization raised these demands by organizing a press meet at North Lakhimpur Press Club on Thursday. Addressing the media persons, ACYPA State president Dharma Kanta Gogoi expressed strong reaction over the growing threat to working journalists of the State while carrying out their duties.

"Of late, we have been observing that life threats, incident of physical assault and harassment, patronized by a section of anti-social and unscrupulous elements, have been increasing in the State. Due to such threats, many journalists of the State, from Parag Das to Kakopothar journalist Parag Bhuyan, had to make supreme sacrifice. Such incidents are the extreme attack on the freedom and responsibility of media, the fourth pillar of the democracy. Under such circumstances, we have demanded Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal to ensure adequate security to the working journalists of the State. As a Chief Minister as well as the Home Minister of the State, it is his obligation and responsibility," Dharma Kanta Gogoi stated.

The ACYPA State president raised the same demand to the Director General of Police (DGP) too. He expressed resentment over the non-proceeding of the inquiry in the suspected murder of Parag Bhuyan and for not arresting all the culprits who were involved in the physical harassment of Milan Mahanta. He demanded the DGP to lead his department to arrest all of them who were involved in both incidents. He remarked that neither the government nor the people of all walks of life had paid due attention to ensure security to journalists. In this regard, the ACYPA State president demanded the State and Union governments to initiate due moves to implement a new Act to ensure security to media persons.

In the same press meet, Dharma Kanta Gogoi demanded Lakhimpur Superintendent of Police, Longnit Terong to launch an imperial inquiry into the murder case of Ramen Baruah, a police constable living at Naosalia village under Azad area, who died on August 9 due to alleged assault on his private part by his wife Minu Das, who is also a police constable.

"On the same day, a case vide No. 1639/2020 US 328/302/IPC was registered at North Lakhimpur Police Station against Minu Das regarding the murder of Ramen Baruah. That day police detained her for interrogation. Significantly, Minu Das filed a case vide No. 1639/2020 US 498A/IPC against the parents of late Ramen Baruah. Now our question is- how did an accused person in a murder case, against whom a case was registered under non-bailable section of Indian Penal Code, get a chance for registering a counter case against the parents of the deceased person instead of being arrested? Why didn't she file the case with the complaint of dowry related harassment before the alleged murder of her husband, the witness of which was the mother of the deceased person? So, we have demanded SP Longnit Terong, who has acquired fame as an efficient police officer, to ensure an impartial inquiry into the murder case and to provide justice to the bereaved family," said Dharma Kanta Gogoi. He also demanded the SP to take action against an alleged syndicate which was engulfing the SP office regarding posting, transfer and other allied issues related to police personnel.

Also Read: Unruly behaviour alleged by Lakhimpur MLA towards flood-affected person

Also Watch: Trade Unions protest against govt policies