Two women journalists were arrested over their social media posts on the recent communal incidents in Tripura.
Highlight
- On the request of Tripura Police, Assam Police detains two journalists from Delhi
- Journalists were arrested for allegedly spreading hatred between communities
- Investigating Officer considers it wise to file a complaint by taking suo motu cognizance to create hatred
A Tripura court on Monday granted bail to two women journalists arrested for allegedly posting provocative posts on communal violence.
On the request of Tripura Police, two journalists from Delhi were arrested by the Assam Police on Sunday for “creating hatred among communities”.
A spokesperson of Tripura Police said that on the request of Tripura Police, Neelam Bazar police station in Karimganj district of Assam has arrested journalist Samriddhi K. Sakuniya and Swarna Jha have been taken into custody.
A team of Tripura Police will bring them to the state.
Tripura Police said in a statement on Sunday that both the journalists had come to Tripura on Thursday and a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code has been registered against them at Kakraban police station (in Gomati district of southern Tripura) on Sunday. A Twitter post by Samridhi Sakuniya revealed that hatred among communities by fabricating, hiding records etc. to further the criminal conspiracy”.
“Taking the recent violence situation in Amaravati and other parts of Maharashtra as an outcome of the communal incident, it has become clear that some vested interests are trying to incite communal incident in Tripura.
“The Investigating Officer felt it prudent to file a suo motu complaint for creating hatred among religious groups for false concoctions, suppression of documents, etc.,” the statement said.
It said that the police asked both the journalists to share the documents which appeared in their video, but instead of coming to Agartala, both the journalists fled towards Assam.
They were also found involved in spreading communal hatred at Paul Bazar in North Tripura district and another case under various sections of the IPC was also registered against them at Fatikroy police station, the statement said.
It said that he was given notice under section CrPC and he was to appear before the investigating agency by November 21 as per his convenience.
Sakuniya and Jha reportedly work for HW News Network.
The media house, in a statement, criticized the Tripura Police and questioned the process of arresting the two journalists, saying, “It is sheer harassment and a target on the part of the Tripura Police and the Tripura government to suppress us from press reporting. facts of the case.”
The media house said that on the basis of a written complaint by Vishwa Hindu Parishad member Kanchan Das, an FIR has been registered at Fatikroy police station.
,With inputs from PTI and IANS,
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