The Crossbill News Desk
Guwahati-based journalist and chief reporter at The CrossCurrent, Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, was arrested on Tuesday (March 25) under the stringent Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act after being accused of abusing a security guard at the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank (ACAB).
His arrest has triggered strong reactions from journalist associations, who have condemned the move as an attack on press freedom.
Mozumder, the assistant general secretary of the Guwahati Press Club (GPC), was covering a protest regarding alleged irregularities at the bank.
A video he posted on social media before his arrest showed him questioning ACAB’s managing director, Dambaru Saikia, about a recruitment scam. Saikia refused to respond and instead called the police, who subsequently detained and arrested the journalist.
In a social media post before his arrest, Mozumder said, “They cannot muzzle my voice. I have been detained at Panbazar police station. I questioned the MD of Apex Bank regarding the corruption allegations”
Saikia alleged that Mozumder forcefully entered his office and verbally abused a security guard, making derogatory remarks about his community. Another bank official claimed Mozumder attempted to tamper with important documents, leading to a law-and-order situation.
The police have also booked Mozumder under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’s Section 351-2 (criminal intimidation). The FIR, based on an unnamed complainant’s statement, accuses him of making offensive comments about the Bodo community. Police cited the alleged verbal abuse, psychological distress caused to the complainant, and evidence tampering as grounds for his arrest.
Mozumder’s family and legal representatives have refuted the allegations, calling the arrest unjust and a violation of his rights. His lawyers argued that the charges against him are bailable and do not warrant prolonged detention.
They also accused the police of failing to issue a notice before his arrest and denying him access to legal counsel during detention.
The arrest has sparked protests, with the GPC staging a demonstration on Wednesday, condemning the move as an assault on press freedom. GPC general secretary Sanjay Ray demanded Mozumder’s immediate release and pledged to continue protests until justice is served.
The Press Club of India (PCI) has also condemned the arrest, criticizing the Assam Police for not disclosing the complainant’s identity or the specific location of the alleged incident.
In a statement, the PCI termed the police’s actions as a “grave infringement on press freedom” and urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to ensure a fair investigation.
“PCI condemns the Assam Police’s highhandedness on the matter, particularly refusal to inform his family and his colleagues on what grounds he was detained in the first place. Preventing a journalist from carrying out his official duty is a grave infringement of the freedom of press that is guaranteed under Article 19 (1) (A) of the Constitution,” PCI statement read.
His arrest has triggered strong reactions from journalist associations, who have condemned the move as an attack on press freedom.
Mozumder, the assistant general secretary of the Guwahati Press Club (GPC), was covering a protest regarding alleged irregularities at the bank.
A video he posted on social media before his arrest showed him questioning ACAB’s managing director, Dambaru Saikia, about a recruitment scam. Saikia refused to respond and instead called the police, who subsequently detained and arrested the journalist.
In a social media post before his arrest, Mozumder said, “They cannot muzzle my voice. I have been detained at Panbazar police station. I questioned the MD of Apex Bank regarding the corruption allegations”
Saikia alleged that Mozumder forcefully entered his office and verbally abused a security guard, making derogatory remarks about his community. Another bank official claimed Mozumder attempted to tamper with important documents, leading to a law-and-order situation.
The police have also booked Mozumder under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita’s Section 351-2 (criminal intimidation). The FIR, based on an unnamed complainant’s statement, accuses him of making offensive comments about the Bodo community. Police cited the alleged verbal abuse, psychological distress caused to the complainant, and evidence tampering as grounds for his arrest.
Mozumder’s family and legal representatives have refuted the allegations, calling the arrest unjust and a violation of his rights. His lawyers argued that the charges against him are bailable and do not warrant prolonged detention.
They also accused the police of failing to issue a notice before his arrest and denying him access to legal counsel during detention.
The arrest has sparked protests, with the GPC staging a demonstration on Wednesday, condemning the move as an assault on press freedom. GPC general secretary Sanjay Ray demanded Mozumder’s immediate release and pledged to continue protests until justice is served.
The Press Club of India (PCI) has also condemned the arrest, criticizing the Assam Police for not disclosing the complainant’s identity or the specific location of the alleged incident.
In a statement, the PCI termed the police’s actions as a “grave infringement on press freedom” and urged Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma to ensure a fair investigation.
“PCI condemns the Assam Police’s highhandedness on the matter, particularly refusal to inform his family and his colleagues on what grounds he was detained in the first place. Preventing a journalist from carrying out his official duty is a grave infringement of the freedom of press that is guaranteed under Article 19 (1) (A) of the Constitution,” PCI statement read.
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