Assam journalist gets bail for second time this week but spends another night in jail

“Our bailer was also ready there, but it could not be done because it got late and there was no time, so he will remain in judicial custody. If nothing unfortunate happens again, we expect that something good will happen tomorrow,” the lawyer said.

Earlier in the day, police also conducted searches at Mozumdar’s residence in Guwahati.

Mozumdar is a reporter with the Assam-based digital media portal, The CrossCurrent, known for its investigative reportage on the state government. He had been detained in the Pan Bazar police station on Tuesday after he went to cover a protest against the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank (ACAB), and later arrested that night based on a complaint that alleged criminal intimidation and violation of provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for “offensive remarks” against a security guard at the bank.

He was granted bail in that case on Wednesday evening, but similarly had to remain in custody overnight because it was granted late in the evening. Before he was released the next day, he was arrested in another case, this time filed by ACAB MD Dombaru Saikia, alleging that Mozumdar had unlawfully entered the first floor of the bank and attempted to take away documents.

Journalist bodies such as the Press Club of India, DIGIPUB News India Foundation, Guwahati Press Club, and Assam Women Journalist’s Forum have condemned his re-arrest, calling it a breach of press freedom.

Congress leader and MP Gaurav Gogoi said, “The repeated arrests of senior journalist Dilwar Hussain by the state police and the illogical remarks of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma betray panic. He is desperately trying to cover up the scandal at the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank, where a close associate and BJP MLA (Biswajit Phukan) is chairman. Journalists in Assam are being threatened and intimidated by people close to the Chief Minister. Those people are unhappy with the rise of new state BJP president Dilip Saikia, who is a likely contender for the CM face.”

Assam Congress president Bhupen Borah also criticised Sarma’s claim that Mozumdar is not recognised by the state government as a journalist since he works for a digital news portal and that he cannot be considered a journalist since he has a dumper business.

“Dilwar Hussain’s offence is trying to uncover the irregularities at Apex Bank. That’s why first he got bail, then they said that he tried to steal documents. Why don’t they release CCTV footage? Show the people of Assam what offence he committed… The Chief Mnister is saying that he is the owner of dumpers. If the Chief Minister can be the owner of news channels, schools, if he can have one business after the other after taking office, what is the issue with a journalist having a business?” he asked.

Sarma’s wife Riniki Bhuyan Sarma is the Chief Managing Director of Pride East Entertainments Private Limited, one of the largest media companies in the North East, and has several other businesses including a private school in Guwahati.