Guwahati: A journalist from a digital news portal in Assam was arrested after being detained for over nine hours following his questioning of the managing director of a cooperative bank regarding alleged financial irregularities. The incident occurred during a protest in the city, officials said.
Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, chief reporter of ‘The Cross Current’ and assistant general secretary of the Gauhati Press Club, was summoned to the Panbazar police station on Tuesday afternoon. He was subsequently detained and arrested after midnight under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including those related to criminal intimidation, as well as provisions of the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The confrontation occurred as the youth wing of Assam Jatiya Parishad, Jatiya Yuva Shakti (JYS), staged a dharna outside the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd to protest against alleged financial irregularities. During the demonstration, Mozumder questioned the bank’s MD, prompting a complaint that accused him of making remarks intended to insult, humiliate, and offend the complainant, who belongs to a Scheduled Tribe (ST) community.
The police report noted that the case was classified as a cognisable and non-bailable offence under the BNS and SC/ST Act, necessitating his immediate arrest to prevent any potential influence on the complainant or witnesses, ensure an impartial investigation, and safeguard evidence from possible tampering.
Mozumder, who has also lodged a complaint with the police, has yet to be registered and alleged that a video recording of the protest was deleted inside the MD’s chamber. He further claimed that the bank official asked him to ensure the demonstration was halted.
His wife and lawyer were reportedly granted entry into the police station late on Tuesday after multiple requests, citing Mozumder’s need for medication.
Several media organisations have strongly condemned the journalist’s arrest, with protest demonstrations planned for Wednesday. Opposition parties, including the Congress, Raijor Dal, and Assam Jatiya Parishad, have also demanded his immediate release.
With PTI inputs