The Tripura government on Tuesday has directed the state director
general of police to investigate into the assault on two journalists,
reporting on narcotic smuggling, in the past two days.
The order came in the wake of allegations that members of a paramilitary force were involved in one incident according to reports.
Tripura
Journalists Union, the largest union of working journalists in the
State, has sought the government’s intervention in the matter.
Notably, Asish Chakraborty, reporting for popular vernacular daily Dainik Sambad,
was assaulted and intimidated in Khowai, while Sadek Mia, a freelancer
working for an electronic channel, was attacked after being kidnapped
from a border location in Sonamura.
The Tripura Working
Journalists Association, in a written statement, claimed that Sadek Mia
was targeted by a section of Assam Rifles, Border Security Force and
police involved in a drugs racket.
None of the three forces has
responded to the charge yet. Senior police officers said they were in
the process of identifying the ‘persons in security uniforms’ at the
spot.
Meanwhile, state’s health minister Sudip Roy Barman also condemned the incident.
“I
will speak to the DGP. We will not tolerate this kind of law and order
violation,” he said after inaugurating a voluntary blood donation camp
organised by Asha Nursing Home here.
Notably, Tripura has witnessed numerous cases of attack and intimidation of journalists.
Last
year, Santanu Bhowmik was killed while covering political tension at
Mandwai, 25 km east of Agartala, while Sudip Datta Bhowmik was shot down
at the headquarters of 2nd battalion of Tripura State Rifles near
Agartala.
