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Cachar SP condemns attack on journalists; "Administration must safeguard liberty," Taimur Raja Choudhury

A direct attack on the fourth pillar of democracy in Silchar. Last night, when veteran journalist Himu Laskar was returning to his residence in Kathal Road Silchar, a few individuals hurled death threats at him.

Laskar, a journalist associated with the daily Bengali broadsheet Samayik Prasanga was dropped by his colleague last night. “While I was walking towards my home a group of people hurdled there said Malin Sarma died and now a few journalists living in Kathal Road must also die by coming under Tipper,” informed Himu Laskar.

It is worth mentioning here that Malin Sarma died in a hit and run case in Silchar’s Tarapur area. Sarma was a journalist associated with a local Cable TV Channel and the Police failed to arrest the driver or trace the vehicle that crushed him. A death threat to another journalist evoking the sentiment of the past is a heinous act said Taimur Raja Choudhury, editor-in-chief of Samayik Prasanga.

He added, “Mafias have got wings of fire because of the inaction. They don’t give a damn about Police or Press anymore. The administration must safeguard liberty or else we will no longer remain a democracy. At stake is not just the life of a journalist but the entire freedom of the press.”

SP Cachar, Bhanwar Lal Meena has condemned the attack on Imad Uddin Mazumdar in Katigorah and death threats hurled at Laskar in Kathal Road. “We will evaluate all the angles and investigate the matter,” said Meena while talking about Himu Laskar’s case.

Journalists along with the secretary of the Press Club met SP Meena at his office today to discuss the issues that the press corp are facing in various parts of the district. Yesterday, three journalists in Katigorah including Mazumdar was also attacked by goons after they reportedly tried to film an untoward incident.

SP Meena said he will ensure that the culprits are arrested as soon as possible. He has also asked the OC of Katigorah Police Station to look into the incident. “OC Katigorah was supposed to go on a leave, but now it has been canceled as he is working on the case,” said SP.

It is worth mentioning here that on November 19, 2020, a Tipper truck crushed a pedestrian in front of Maharshi Vidyamandir School in Kathal Road Silchar. After that incident was reported by news publications, the Tippers stopped plying on Kathal Road. However, yesterday they started driving on that route again.

It is being speculated that the death threats hurled at Himu Laskar are related to the accident and Tipper owners and drivers are suspected to be behind it. SP Meena noted the significant rise in the number of accidents involving Tippers in Cachar and said that he will discuss the issue with other departments and roll-out key measures related to road safety.

What comes as an astonishment is that MP Rajdeep Roy, Minister Parimal Suklabaidya, and other MLAs who were proactive in condemning the arrest of Arnab Goswami in Mumbai remained silent when it comes to the attack on Imad and Himu Laskar in their own constituency.

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