Asem Bhakta Singh, Special Correspondent North East
Guwahati: Journalists today protested the assault on a reporter at Nagaon District Commissioner’s office and demanded action the IAS officer.
Wearing black badges, members of Gauhati Press Club (GPC) staged a demonstration outside the club’s premises, and shouted slogans against the “high-handedness” of the officer and police personnel who “dragged the reporter and treated him like a criminal.”
GPC president Sushmita Goswami said it was unfortunate that there has been no action on the part of the government even after two days of the incident. “We will continue this agitation, till an inquiry is instituted and action taken against the IAS officer,” she said.
GPC secretary Sanjay Ray said also expressed surprise over the silence of the government authorites on the incide.t “Such incidents have happened in the past, and they only show the power-drunk attidue of the government authorities. If the government continues to remain silent, we may be forced to call a boytcott of government functions in Nagaon district,” Ray said, adding that all those involved in the assault, including the police personnel, should be takne to task.
GPC will be submitting a memorandum to the Chief Secretary and DGP tomorrow.
Journalists Union of Assam president Samim Sultana Ahmed said national organizations of journalists have also expressed anguish over the action of the IAS officer. “Unless the government patronizes such behaviors, the DC would not have had the courage to act in such a way. It only shows the government’s attitude towards the journalists and common man,” she added.
The victim reporter Dipankar Medhi was also present at the protest and he narrated how the DC assaulted him and directed the police to drag him away from the DC office. Medhi had gone to meet the DC to inquire about a pending widow pension of a woman.
