Press Statement

IJU Condemns Arrest Of Digital Journo In Assam

26 Mar, 2025

New Delhi/Guwahati, 26 March 2025: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) joins its affiliate, Journalists
Union of Assam (JUA) in condemning the arrest of Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, Chief Reporter of digital
media portal, The CrossCurrent and Assistant Secretary of Guwahati Press Club by the Assam police on
Tuesday night, following his covering a demonstration against alleged corruption within Assam Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd. The next day journalists in Guwahati and JUA led a protest at the Press Club,
then in front of police station and court premises demanding his unconditional release. He was granted bail
later in the evening.

According to the police, Mozumdar was arrested following filing of two FIRs against him. One for alleged
criminal intimidation and violation of provisions of SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and for
“offensive remarks” under section 351 of Bharatiya Nayaya Sanhita, after a complaint by the bank’s security
guard Sishul Boro at Panbazar Police Station. The other was filed by Managing Director Dambaru Saikia
who claimed Mozumder ‘unlawfully entered the 1st floor of the headquarters and attempted to steal valuable
bank documents. And when an alarm was raised, he fled.”

However, according to The CrossCurrent, Mozumdar had gone to the bank premises to cover the protest
by Jatiya Yuva Shakti, as he has in the past written about alleged irregularities in the bank, in which Chief
Minister Himanta Biswas Sarma is Director and BJP MLA Biswajit Phukan its chairman. ‘That day, he had
approached the MD to get his comments about the allegations and was called upstairs. When he went up,
the MD asked him to stop the protest, which Mozumdar refused and as he came down, cops asked him to
sit in a police car. With other reporters supporting him, he said he would go to the station himself. He did
so around 1 p.m. after finishing his work–sent visuals from the protest. He was detained there until after
11 pm.” His family was given details of his arrest.

In a statement, IJU President and former member of Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak and Secretary
General and Vice President of International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Sabina Inderjit said that
Mozumdar’s arrest was sheer gagging of independent reportage, and the FIRs filed appeared to be trumped
up charges. Besides, arresting journalists for merely during his/her duties is sheer violation of freedom of
press and such curtailment of media rights is unacceptable. The government must refrain from such
intimidation and harassment of journalists and respect rule of law.