Guwahati: An Assamese journalist registered an FIR against two police constables for assaulting him after he asked them why they weren’t wearing helmets while riding a bike. The incident occurred around 2 pm on Monday, when Axomiya Pratidin journalist Jayanta Debnath was passing through a crowded area in Chirang district’s Basugaon.
Speaking to EastMojo, Debnath said, “It was a very crowded place and we were passing through and I was on a scooter wearing a helmet. I saw everybody had a helmet on in the crowd, but two policemen weren’t wearing helmets. I asked them ‘where is your helmet?’ and he did not reply.”
“I then told him that law is equal for all, if ordinary men like us do not wear a helmet, you penalise us, but you have not worn a helmet. If you do not follow the rule, who will the common man follow? Then he started abusing me,” the journalist narrated the incident.
“I am just asking you, isn’t law equal for all?” Debnath said, when the constables allegedly began using even more violent and abusive words and started harassing him.
“I told him I was a journalist with Axomiya Pratidin and the General Secretary of Chirang District Press Club. But even as a citizen, I can question you this,” said Debnath and went ahead of the vehicle and stopped the vehicle, after which both the cops allegedly pushed Debnath’s vehicle first and when he saw the situation turn violent and the cops turn aggressive, he took his mobile phone out.
On seeing the journalist pull out his phone, the cops began to beat Debnath, who is now admitted to a hospital in Bongaigaon district. The journalist suffered injuries on his hand, head, and genitals where he was assaulted by the constables.
“Our policeman, Pradip Saha, had gone there and was not wearing a helmet. So the reporter stopped and questioned him, and then they began to quarrel, leading to a tussle,” Inspector Nabajit Talukdar, officer-in-charge of Basugaon Police Station, told EastMojo.
“There will be a departmental inquiry, and the SP is looking into the matter now,” the official added.
“We found out that one of the cops had assaulted the journalist so he has filed a complaint. We have closed both the constables in reserve, and departmental proceedings have begun against them. A non-FIR case has been registered against them for not wearing helmets, and the journalist has filed an FIR against the accused. Within 20 days, we will close the case,” Pranjit Borah, Chirang SP, told EastMojo.
On being asked what ‘Reserve close’ meant, the SP explained, “The constables have been removed from active duty and have been closed to the ordinary reserve. It means that they will not be able to influence any investigation or inquiry or investigation of the case.”
The SP said of the two constables, Pradip Saha and Lakhi Barman, the prima facie evidence showed Saha was the one who had assaulted Debnath and not Lakhi Barman. However, an inquiry will be held against both the cops.
Meanwhile, a protest demonstration was held in Guwahati on Tuesday, condemning the incident. Talking to EastMojo, one of the protestors said, “Yesterday when a journalist confronted cops for their mistake, he was assaulted right away. We, the journalists, have been quiet for a long time and compromised a lot, as we have our responsibilities. But this won’t be the case anymore. Various organisations have been suggesting the government bring in strict laws to safeguard journalists, but nothing has been done until now. This incident comes as a lesson.”
“Therefore, we urge (Chief Minister) Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma to bring in appropriate laws or measures to protect the journalists in the same way Assam police have been awarded a lot of powers,” the journalist on protest added.
Also read: Assam: How Nagaon Police is cracking the whip on helmet-less riders