The arrest of journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder in Assam has triggered widespread protests across the state, with media organizations and opposition parties condemning the police’s actions as an attack on press freedom. Mozumder, a reporter for the digital news portal The CrossCurrent and assistant general secretary of the Guwahati Press Club, was detained for over nine hours before being arrested on March 25, 2025.
The Incident
Mozumder was covering a protest organized by the youth wing of the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP) outside the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank in Guwahati. The demonstration was held to highlight alleged financial irregularities in the bank, where Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma serves as a director. During the protest, Mozumder reportedly questioned the bank’s managing director, Dombaru Saikia, about the allegations. Shortly after, he was summoned to the Panbazar police station and later arrested under charges of criminal intimidation and violation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Allegations and Reactions
The police claim that Mozumder made offensive remarks against a complainant belonging to a Scheduled Tribe, which led to his arrest. However, Mozumder has denied the allegations, stating that he was merely performing his journalistic duties. He also alleged that his video recordings of the protest were deleted while he was in the bank’s premises.
The arrest has drawn sharp criticism from media organizations, opposition parties, and civil society groups. Journalists gathered at the Guwahati Press Club to protest against what they described as police highhandedness and an attempt to stifle press freedom. Opposition parties, including the Congress and Raijor Dal, have demanded Mozumder’s immediate release and an impartial investigation into the incident.
Legal Proceedings
Mozumder was granted bail by the Kamrup Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate on March 26, but procedural delays meant he remained in judicial custody overnight. His arrest has raised concerns about the growing challenges faced by journalists in India, particularly those reporting on sensitive issues involving powerful institutions.
This incident underscores the critical need to protect press freedom and ensure that journalists can perform their duties without fear of harassment or intimidation. The protests in Assam highlight the broader struggle for accountability and transparency in governance.
