Freedom of the press must not be subjected to police action: ABSU

The All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) on Saturday expressed serious concern over the action against a journalist in Dhubri
Freedom of the press must not be subjected to police action: ABSU

OUR CORRESPONDENT

KOKRAJHAR: The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) on Saturday expressed serious concern over the action against a journalist in Dhubri who exposed cattle smuggling racket and warned that the freedom of press must not be subjected to police action. The ABSU also condoled the demise of scribe RajibSarmah's father who passed away, allegedly unable to bear the shock of his son's arrest.

The assistant general secretary of the ABSU, Kwrwmdao Wary said that the arrest of scribe RajibSarmah for performing his professional duty of exposing the corruption in government departments was condemnable. He said that Dhubri district, being one of the bordering districts of Bangladesh and having a porous border, was often in the news for cattle smuggling and timber smuggling.

"A scribe reporting such news and highlighting the administration's silent behaviour cannot become the ground to file case and arrest the scribe," he said, adding that the ABSU condemned such a move by the police. He also said such that cases would deface the freedom of press and embolden the syndicates.

Wary appealed to the Chief Minister of Assam to consider the case of RajibSarmah and release him unconditionally, though he is yet to be re-arrested after being granted interim bail following his father's demise. Wary further said that such action against the journalist who wanted the illegal activities and syndicates to be investigated by the government properly, was undesirable for a healthy democracy. "The officers indulging in or allowing such illegal activities in Dhubri district must be investigated by the Government of Assam and the main culprits must be booked," he added.

The ABSU leader said that mere transfer of the Dhubri Superintendent of Police was not enough and those running the syndicates must be investigated as the Chief Minister had promised a syndicate-free State.

On the other hand, former Rajya Sabha MP UG Brahma also questioned whether exposing the cattle smuggling along the Indo-Bangladesh border by journalist RajibSarmah was an offence. He said that the case should be investigated properly.

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