Attacks on journalists, three miscreants send to jail custody up to Sep 19

Three miscreants arrested for attack on a group of journalists late Monday night in a street of Agartala were sent to judicial custody till September 19 next.

After a group of journalists were brutally attacked by a gang of miscreants on late Monday night in a street of Agartala, a group of journalists led by senior editors met the DGP (Intelligence) at police headquarters on Monday evening demanding stringent punishments of all accused attackers.

The attack on scribes drew widespread condemnation from media bodies and after deputation with DGP, he assured them that stringent steps would be taken to ensure the safety of journalists across the state.

According to an FIR filed by the journalists, six journalists were en route to the Chandrapur Inter State Bus Terminus (ISBT) around 1 AM when a four-wheeler blocked their path. A group of miscreants came out from the car and all of sudden they attacked the journalists.

During attack by miscreants on way from Motor Stand to Math Chowmuhani, three attackers Sukanta Debnath (alias Nishan), Akash Banik, and Sourav Bhattacharya were arrested after Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha issued stern warning against miscreants and ordered for prompt police action.

In the attacks journalists and editor of ‘Public Now’ news channel Prasenjit Bhattacharjee, Bijoy Singha Roy, Pranab Shil, and senior journalist Mihir Sarkar suffered injuries.

Giving details APP in-charge, advocate Dilip Debnath said that as per the FIR filed at East Agartala police station case number-103/2024 under sections 126(2), 118 (2), 109 (1), 308 (5), 324 (5), 351 (2), 3(5) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), all arrested miscreants were produced before the court of additional chief judicial magistrate, Agartala on Tuesday after with two days police remand.

The prosecution team opposed the bail petitions and after hearing both prosecution and defense teams, the court sent all accused to judicial custody up to September 19 next.

The attacks on scribes created widespread condemnation across the state and Chief Minister Dr Manik Saha also strongly condemned the incident and assured justice to all victim journalists.

General Secretary of the Assembly of Journalists (AOJ) and senior editor Sanit Debroy condemned the attack and after deputation with DGP, Debroy speaking with media said that “Prasenjit Bhattacharjee, Pranab Shil, and Mihir Lal Sarkar are prominent figures in the state's media and they were on their way to verify information when a group of hooligans assaulted them. This is unacceptable."

Tripura Journalist Union President Pranab Sarkar has also expressed his anguish and said that the media in Tripura has faced repeated attacks, two journalists were killed, and two newspaper offices were set on fire.  He said that if the police administration will not ensure strict action, the media fraternity  will launch a statewide protest.