KalimNews, Kolkata/New Delhi/Guwahati, March 26, 2025: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU), along with its affiliate, the Journalists Union of Assam (JUA), has strongly condemned the arrest of Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, Chief Reporter of the digital media portal The CrossCurrent and Assistant Secretary of the Guwahati Press Club, by Assam Police on Tuesday night. Mozumder was taken into custody after covering a demonstration against alleged corruption within Assam Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd., sparking widespread protests by the journalist community demanding his immediate and unconditional release. He was granted bail later that evening.
According to the police, Mozumder’s arrest followed the filing of two FIRs against him. One was based on a complaint by the bank’s security guard, Sishul Boro, at Panbazar Police Station, alleging criminal intimidation, violation of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, and “offensive remarks” under Section 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The second FIR was lodged by the bank’s Managing Director, Dambaru Saikia, who accused Mozumder of unlawfully entering the first floor of the headquarters and attempting to steal valuable bank documents before fleeing when an alarm was raised.
However, The CrossCurrent has refuted these allegations, stating that Mozumder was at the bank premises to report on a protest led by Jatiya Yuva Shakti. He had previously written extensively about alleged irregularities in the bank, in which Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma serves as a Director, and BJP MLA Biswajit Phukan holds the position of Chairman. According to the media portal, Mozumder had approached the Managing Director to obtain his comments on the allegations. He was reportedly called upstairs, where the MD asked him to stop covering the protest. When Mozumder refused, police officers waiting outside asked him to sit in a police vehicle. Other journalists present witnessed the interaction, and Mozumder insisted he would go to the police station himself after completing his reporting. He arrived at the station around 1 p.m. and was detained there until after 11 p.m., with his family receiving details of his arrest later.
In a joint statement, IJU President and former Press Council of India member Geetartha Pathak and IJU Secretary General Sabina Inderjit, who also serves as Vice President of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), denounced the arrest as an attempt to suppress independent journalism. They described the FIRs as fabricated and emphasized that detaining journalists for performing their professional duties constitutes a blatant violation of press freedom. They further called on the government to refrain from intimidation and harassment of journalists and to uphold the rule of law.
The Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) also strongly condemned Mozumder’s arrest, describing it as an alarming attack on press freedom. In a statement, APUWJ highlighted that Mozumder was simply fulfilling his journalistic duty by questioning a public official regarding allegations of a recruitment scam within the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank. “The incident, which unfolded during a public protest organized by the Jatiya Yuva Shakti, the youth wing of the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), is deeply disturbing and raises serious concerns about the state of press freedom and the right of journalists to hold those in power accountable,” the statement read.
APUWJ President Amar Sangno warned that such actions not only intimidate the press but also erode public trust in institutions meant to uphold transparency and accountability. “This appears to be a deliberate attempt to silence independent journalism and discourage reporters from carrying out their fundamental duty of informing the public,” he stated.
Expressing solidarity with Mozumder, APUWJ urged authorities to respect the constitutional protections granted to journalists and to cease coercive measures aimed at curbing press freedom. The organization also appealed to journalist bodies across the Northeast and the country to unite against such transgressions and continue advocating for a media environment free from fear and intimidation.
The arrest of Mozumder has sparked concerns over increasing restrictions on press freedom in India, with journalist unions and civil society organizations calling for greater protection for media professionals. The case underscores the pressing need for vigilance against attempts to stifle independent journalism and the importance of preserving the democratic values of free speech and press autonomy.
