Assam Journalist Arrest Sparks Outrage: Gaurav Gogoi Seeks Probe in Scathing Letter to PM Modi
In a scathing letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi has urged the government to launch an inquiry into the misuse of Assam Police to arrest a journalist, Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, who was covering a protest against alleged financial irregularities in a state-run bank. Mozumder’s arrest has sparked nationwide protests among journalists, who are demanding the government intervene to ensure press freedom and accountability.
According to Gogoi, the journalist’s arrest is not just a matter of individual persecution, but a larger issue that strikes at the very heart of India’s democracy, transparency, and protection of constitutional rights. The deputy leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha wrote in his letter that “the misuse of police powers in the arbitrary arrest of journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder must be investigated to ensure accountability. It is also imperative to safeguard press freedom and prevent the wrongful targeting of journalists reporting on matters of public interest.”
Mozumder, who works for a Guwahati-based digital media outlet, was arrested twice in just two days – first on Tuesday midnight and again on Thursday morning – on charges of casting aspersions on a bank employee and attempting to steal valuable bank documents. Despite being granted bail on both occasions, the journalist was rearrested, leading Gogoi to allege that the police actions were aimed at silencing a journalist reporting on alleged irregularities at the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank (ACAB).
The bank, which is chaired by BJP MLA Biswajit Phukan and has Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma as one of its directors, has been embroiled in a financial scam, with alleged irregularities including the misuse of funds and the absence of a formal contract with an IT vendor. The Congress MP urged Modi to initiate an independent probe into these allegations, as well as the governance of the bank, citing media reports of suspicious transactions and a massive jump in its infrastructure costs.
Gogoi’s letter to the PM has been made available to the press, and the issue is expected to gain further traction in the coming days. The government, however, has yet to respond to the demands for an inquiry into the alleged irregularities at ACAB, as well as the arrest of the journalist. As tensions continue to escalate, it remains to be seen whether the government will take concrete steps to ensure accountability, protect press freedom, and restore public faith in India’s institutions.
Original Source: https://news.abplive.com/news/india/congress-mp-gaurav-gogoi-seeks-probe-into-assam-journalist-arrest-writes-to-pm-modi-1761665
Category : India
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Publish Date: 2025-03-30 14:55:00
