Two Self-Proclaiming Journalists Detained By Barpathar Police

A Correspondent

Bokajan: With the prime motive of blackmail and extortion, Bokajan has witnessed a rise in the number of self-proclaimed journalists and social organizations in the past couple of years. This has of late become a thriving business for some people to spin money using fraudulent tactics, strategies and to keep money rolling.

A number of independent Facebook pages and YouTube channels which run news content in their platform are putting the credibility of media at stake. With little or no ethical training, more youths are drawn into the journalism profession with the temptation of receiving easy money. However, many land themselves in trouble.

The Barpathar Police detained two youths for allegedly posing as journalists and demanding money from a hotel owner at Silonijan in East Karbi Anglong on Sunday.

As reported, four youths posing as journalists had food and beverages in a roadside hotel in the Silonijan locality and did not intend to settle the bill amount. On insisting payment, they pulled out a camera and started filming a video of the leftover food and empty bottles, threatening to expose the owner by framing news against him for serving liquor in the hotel. They also threatened the owner of calling the police and initiating legal action against him. The gang also purportedly demanded a monthly share of money for keeping the matter under wraps.

The panic-ridden owner informed locals who confronted the group and thrashed them before handing them over to the police. The arrested youths have been identified as Pabitra Borah and Gopi Paul while Liton Haque and the fourth accomplice, who is yet to be identified, managed to escape.

A series of similar instances have been reported against self-proclaiming journalists after the incident. Two other hotel owners, including a lady, had to part with Rs 1000 each under similar circumstances to this notorious gang a couple of days back in the same locality. “They threatened to run stories against us. We had no option but to oblige,” said the lady citing anonymity.

This is just the tip of an iceberg. Many incidents like this get shoved under the rug. Youths posing as journalists and student leaders frequent business establishments in Bokajan and the suburbs trying to find incriminating evidence and later resort to blackmail and extortion. The issue has escalated to such an extent that even the hotels and eateries along the highway are not spared.