Begin typing your search above and press return to search.

Protest against TV journalist�s arrest

By Correspondent

BONGAIGAON, Sept 3 � The arrest of Jaikholong Brahma, a journalist working for a Guwahati-based TV channel, triggered protests among various organisations here today.

The police nabbed Brahma yesterday on the charge of being involved in unlawful activities linked to the violence perpetrated by the NDFB�s Songbijit faction.

Kokrajhar SP Sunil Kumar said, �Brahma has been nabbed as he had instigated the NDFB(S) militants to commit violence.�

The chief coordinator of the People�s Coordination for Democratic Rights, Rwngwra Narzary has termed the arrest of Brahma as a direct blow to the fourth pillar of democracy. He has appealed to the Government to refrain from harassing media persons and instead take strong action against the killers of Priya Basumatary.

AKRSU president Biswajit Ray has condemned the arrest of Brahma and said that through this act, the �fascist� nature of the Government and the police, who have failed to nab militants, has been exposed. He demanded Brahma�s unconditional release.

The president of the Bongaigaon district unit of the Assam Press Correspondents� Union, Prasanta Ray also demanded the early release of Brahma and maintained that the police and the State Home Department are trying to gag the media, which is �very shameful.�

Bongaigaon Greater Press Club general secretary Pranab Deka also condemned Brahma�s arrest and called upon the media fraternity to unite and expose the Government�s �fascist nature.�

Tezpur Correspondent adds: Scribes representing various organisations including the Sonitpur Journalists� Union, Sonitpur Press Club, Sangbadik Karma Parishad, Journalists� Federation of Assam, AAJU, etc., registered a strong protest in front of the office of the DC in Tezpur in protest against the arrest of Jaikholong Brahma, reporter of a private satellite channel, and the raid on his residence by the Assam Police. The scribes shouted slogans and submitted a memorandum to the DC, which was addressed to the Chief Minister, demanding Brahma�s immediate release.

The memorandum also condemned the alleged harassment of the scribe. �It is nothing but an attack on the profession of journalism which is considered the fourth pillar of democracy,� the memorandum said.

Next Story