GUWAHATI: Assam Police does not appear to share Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s views that a journalist working for a web portal in Assam is not considered a journalist by the government. Sarma’s comment came in the context of the arrest of Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, who works for a Guwahati-based web portal, during a press conference on Thursday, March 27 evening.
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Addressing the press conference, Sarma said that the government only recognises print and electronic media. "The government does not consider Dilwar Hussain as a journalist," he said. "In Assam, only legacy media - print and television- are officially recognised." Sarma further elaborated that the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) has never granted journalist status to any portal media personnel. “We do not provide registration, advertisements, or identity cards to them. As of now, they do not qualify for our definition of journalists,” the chief minister added.
However, in its seven-point `Ground of Arrest’ submitted to Mozumder’s wife after rearresting him in a second case on Thursday, March 27 evening, the Panbazar police describes him as a journalist. “Given his influential position as a journalist with strong media connections, there is a serious and credible apprehension that he may attempt to manipulate the narrative, suppress evidence, and exert undue influence on key witnesses. Any delay in taking legal action could severely compromise the integrity of the investigation and obstruct the judicial process. Immediate compliance with this notice is essential to prevent any such interference,” the fifth ground of arrest states. It may be noted that the Police department is under the chief minister’s charge.
Meanwhile, Police raided Mozumder's residence early on Friday and seized a large number of documents. He was arrested on March 25 on the charge of insulting a Scheduled Tribe staff of the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank among other charges.
According to an FIR filed by the bank’s Managing Director, D. Saikia, in the second case Mozumder allegedly entered the first floor of the bank’s head office in Panbazar on March 25 at around 12:30 PM and attempted to steal crucial documents. At the time, he was covering a protest demonstration against alleged corruption in the bank.
He is expected to move for bail when produced in court on Friday, March 28.