FIR in Tripura against two journalists covering violence in state

Journalists Samriddhi Sakunia and Swarna Jha of HW News Network were detained by Assam Police early this morning, in connection with a case registered against them with the Tripura Police.

The two journalists, have been covering the incidents of violence in Tripura, after the attack on the Hindus in Bangladesh.  According to HW News Network, an FIR has been filed against the two journalists in Fatikroy police station in the Unakoti district of Tripura. The FIR has been filed under charges IPC Section 120B (Criminal Conspiracy), 153A (Promoting enmity between different religious groups) and 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of peace).

The FIR has been filed on the basis of a complaint by Kanchan Das, a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, alleging that Sakunia and Jha delivered “instigating speeches against Hindus and Tripura Government, when they visited a Muslim locality in Paul Bazar area of Unakoti district.

Das said in the complaint Sakunia falsely blamed Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal for the fire at Paul Bazar Masjid in order to malign his organisation and the government.

The Assam police arrived at the hotel where, the two journalists had checked-in in Assam. The police arrived around 10.30 pm yesterday and as the two were leaving the hotel at 5.30 am today, the Assam police served them with a copy of the FIR and said that though they have no case against the journalists, they will have to detain both of them.

When the journalists pointed out that due process of law was not being followed by the Assam police, they were allowed to go, after being told that the Tripura police will serve them a seven day notice.