Hours after assault on journalists in Agartala, Tripura CM assures strict action against perpetrators

Meanwhile, several journalists held a demonstration outside the Tripura Police headquarters in Agartala on Monday to protest the recent attack by miscreants that left four journalists injured.

Speaking to reporters at the protest venue on Monday, veteran journalist Sanit Debroy said, “A few hooligans travelling in a car and a few others on motorcycles stopped a group of journalists going towards East Agartala police station early Monday morning. The miscreants then assaulted the journalists. The police from East Agartala police station rushed to the spot and detained the driver of the vehicle in which the attackers had come but the other hooligans managed to flee. We are highly aggrieved at this incident.”

Later, the accused were identified as Sourav Bhattacharjee, Sukanta Debnath and Akash Banik. “They were arrested soon after a case was filed at the East Agartala police station on Monday. They were produced before the court on Tuesday. The accused have been arrested on charges of wrongful restraint and assault,” said a senior police officer from the headquarters.

As per different media organisations, at least 47 journalists were assaulted and three media offices were attacked in the last five years. Two journalists were also killed in the line of duty in 2017. The journalists complained that the criminals were not brought to justice in a single case.

Meanwhile, the police have tightened the security in the capital city in view of the upcoming Durga Puja celebrations, slated to be organised in October.

“We have started naka points since Monday. The East Agartala police have arrested six persons on charges of theft and recovered stolen items, including gold chains and a generator etc,” a police officer said.

A senior police officer said, “Prompt actions are taken in all incidents. We arrest all culprits within 24 hours of the incidents and due to our prompt action, such incidents are not happening.”