Media gives Govt 24 hrs for action : govt directs DGP to probe attack on journalists

Journalists of the state yesterday condemned the repeated incidents of attack on journalists, served an ultimatum of 24 hours to the government for taking immediate steps.

Speaking to the media persons at Agartala Press Club Veteran editor Subal Kumar Dey said “If the journalists get attacked in such a way and no necessary steps are taken by the police than it would really a dreadfull situation to take control of”.

The Tripura government on Tuesday directed the State Director General of Police to probe the assault on two journalists, reporting on narcotic smuggling, in the past two days.

Journalist bodies including the Agartala Press Club authority condemned the incidents and demanded for the arrest of the culprits.

Allegedly, a group of unknown persons suspected to be involved in a drug paddling gang went to Khowai and enquired on the whereabouts of Ashis Chakraborty, a journalist associated with a local daily paper.

Chakraborty had written against illegal drug trade and had allegedly been threatened by a group earlier. Nobody could identify the persons even though a private CCTV camera had recorder the entire incident.

Meanwhile, senior journalist Biplab Chakraborty was assaulted by a group of unknown miscreants with the help of security personnel in Melaghar of Sepahijala district on Sunday evening while driving to Sonamura.

According to Chakraborty, a security vehicle was blocking his way on the narrow road following which the men in uniform got down and assaulted him.

Another journalist identified as Sadeq Mia followed the vehicle and saw a number of private vehicles waiting there with loads of cannabis, which were loaded into the security vehicle.
However, a group of men spotted Mia and took him into a nearby jungle where they proceeded to severely beat him.