A journalist in Assam, Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, was granted bail after being arrested for questioning the managing director of a cooperative bank regarding alleged financial irregularities. The arrest, which took place following a protest by the Assam Jatiya Parishad’s youth wing, Jatiya Yuva Shakti (JYS), sparked widespread criticism from media organizations and human rights groups.
Mozumder, the chief reporter for The Cross Current, had asked D Saikia, the managing director of Assam Cooperative Apex Bank, about the alleged irregularities during the protest on Monday. The protest was held in front of the bank’s headquarters at Pan Bazar. According to reports, Mozumder was summoned by the police, detained for nine hours, and then arrested around midnight on charges of criminal intimidation and violation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The FIR, based on a complaint from D Saikia, claimed that Mozumder made derogatory caste-based remarks toward a bank security guard, who belongs to the ST community, and that he insulted the guard. The police also alleged that Mozumder unlawfully entered the first floor of the bank’s office and attempted to steal valuable documents, disturbing the bank’s operations. However, Mozumder denied the allegations, asserting that his video recording of the protest was deleted inside the MD’s office.
In response to the arrest, the Press Club of India (PCI) and the Gauhati Press Club condemned the incident, emphasizing that it was an attack on press freedom. The PCI expressed solidarity with the Gauhati Press Club, which has demanded an end to the harassment of journalists. The Assam Women Journalists’ Forum (AWJF) also joined in, calling the arrest a serious threat to the freedom of the press and a violation of democratic principles.
Mozumder, who has filed his own complaint with the police that has yet to be registered, remains firm that his actions were in the pursuit of news and public interest. The Press Club of India reiterated its support for Mozumder and criticized the police for detaining him in the course of his professional duties.