Ensure media is not crushed in West Bengal: Anurag Thakur to Mamata days after journalist’s arrest

Santu Pan, a journalist with Republic Bangla, was arrested from Sandeshkhali late on Monday evening.

Addressing a press conference, Thakur called the journalist's arrest unfortunate. (Express file photo)

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Thursday took serious exception to the arrest of a TV journalist in West Bengal and appealed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to ensure the media is not crushed in the state.

Addressing a press conference, Thakur called the journalist’s arrest unfortunate.

“It is my request to Mamata Banerjee that such thing should not happen again,” Thakur told reporters.

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“Freedom of press is the right of media and it should not be crushed. This is my appeal to Mamata Banerjee,” he added.

Santu Pan, a journalist with Republic Bangla, was arrested from Sandeshkhali late on Monday evening.

Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24-Parganas district has been tense with a large number of women in the locality accusing Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of “land-grab and sexually assaulting” them under coercion.

Sheikh has been absconding since January 5 when a mob attacked Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers during a raid at his residence in connection with an alleged ration scam.

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Two of Sheikh’s aides, who along with others were booked under charges of gang rape and attempt to murder, have been arrested.

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