Two female journalists held for publishing fake news on Tripura violence: Police

Two Delhi-based women journalists, booked in Tripura for criminal conspiracy and other charges, were detained by the police in Karimganj district in Assam on Sunday.

Samriddhi Sakunia D/o Gopal Sakunia of Manwar Para, Jharsuguda, Odisha and Swarna Jha D/O Ratneshwar Jha of Rohini, New Delhi have been detained by Tripura Police with the assistance of Nilam Bazaar Police Station of Karimganj District, Assam on Sunday.

They are reportedly journalist by profession and have come to Tripura from outside the State on 11 Nov 2021. Their complicity has been transpired in connection with the Kakraban PS Case No. 2021 KKB 082 dated 14/11/2021 U/S 153A/153B/193/504/120B/204 IPC regarding creation of hatred between communities by fabricating, concealing of record etc in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy as revealed from the tweeter post posted by Samriddhi Sakunia.

In this social media post she posted a video of her visit to the half burned prayer hall damaged by mischievous fire in the house of one Rahamat Ali of Hurijala, PS Kakraban on 11/11/2021 try to claim that one holy Quran was burned in the incident occurred in the night of 19/10/2021 which refers to Kakraban PS Case No. 74/2021 U/S 436 IPC.

This is contrary to the findings so far revealed in course of investigation as presence of no such damaged books/documents was brought to the notice of investigating officer and fire service staff who extinguished the fire.

Accordingly she was contacted over telephone by police on 14/11/2021 morning and she was specifically asked to give details of the document visible in the video, she told that the document was available at the alleged place of occurrence and it is the responsibility of police to trace the document. she also informed that they will be leaving Tripura by flight from Agartala. As such she was requested by police officer to stay for sometime at Agartala for her examination.

Further verification was made by examining the house owner Rahamat Ali by the investigating officer on 14/11/2021 and he told that there might be some burned document and these were taken away by a team from Delhi who visited the place of occurrence in the last part of October 2021.

It may be mention that a team of lawyers from Delhi visited the place on 27/10/2021 and made a similar claim with a questionable photograph. Taking cue from the recent state of violence at Amravati and other parts of Maharastra as a repercussion of communal incident it has become clear that some vested interest are trying to flare up the communal incident in Tripura and the Investigating Officer felt it wise to lodge a suo-moto complaint for creating hatred between religious group by false fabrication, concealing documents etc. this refers to Kakraban PS Case No. 82/2021, dated 14/11/2021 U/S 153A/153B/193/504/120B/204 IPC.

But instead of coming to Agartala the two reporters made an escape towards Assam. On getting this information Assam police was contacted and they were detained at Nilam Bazaar PS.

Police party from Dharmananagar women PS reached Nilam Bazaar and the detained persons are being brought. The investigating officer of Kakraban PS Case No. 82/2021, dated 14/11/2021 U/S 153A/153B/193/504/120B/204 IPC has also proceeded towards Dharmanagar for bringing the detained persons for further course of legal action.

It may be further mentioned that these two persons were earlier found involved in spreading communal hatred at Paul Bazaar under Fatikroy PS under North Tripura. This refers to Fatikroy PS Case No. 39/2021 dated 14/11/2021 U/S 120B/153A/504 IPC. They were served with notices U/S 41A Cr.PC and supposed to appear before the investigation agency by 21/11/2021 according to their convenience.

Tripura police once again request the peace loving people of the State of Tripura to remain calm and adhere to social norms.