Tripura: Crime Branch to investigate BJP attack on media houses

Ajker Fariad newspaper along with local TV Channel PB 24 and Pratibadi Kalam newspaper house was allegedly ransacked by BJP supporters during a protest rally on Wednesday

Agartala: The Crime Branch unit of Tripura Police has taken over the investigation in the case related to the attack on a media house in Agartala city. The development came after a meeting between senior journalists and the IG of Law and Order Tripura Arindam Nath.

The senior journalists insisted on transferring the case to the crime branch as the local officer-in-charge was named as one of the accused in the case. Newspapers Ajker Fariad, Pratibadi Kalam and local TV Channel PB 24 were allegedly attacked by BJP supporters during a protest rally on Wednesday.

The media house comes under the jurisdiction of West Agartala Police Station. A video footage shot during the ghastly attacks on the media house showed the local officer-in-charge refusing to prevent the irate mob indulged in violence and arson. However, the other case that was lodged against miscreants for attacking the state’s CPI-M mouthpiece office remains with the police.

Speaking on what transpired in the meeting at police headquarters, senior journalist and editor of Ajker Fariad newspaper Shanti Debroy said, ”We have shared every minute details to what happened on Wednesday and informed the police a sense of panic is prevailing all over. The journalists who are working in the state are feeling threatened and many other media houses have started to feel insecure given the mood of attack.”

To a question regarding arrests, he said, no one has been arrested by the police. “There is sufficient evidence to act but we don’t have any faith left in the police as the media comes under attack in the state often. This time we want stern action. Since they have assured us, we are once again waiting to see the police's role in the case”, he added.

Another senior Journalist Jayanta Bhattacharjee said, “we have told the police that the attackers are identified. The CCTV footage has already revealed the faces of attackers. If strict actions are not taken we shall once again sit together to plan our next step”.