Guwahati: Assam Police has directed Chirang SP to take suitable action against erring police officers who assaulted a Pratidin Time journalist in Basugaon town in Chirang distrct on Monday.
In a tweet, Additional DGP (Law & Order) GP Singh expressed remorse for the incident that occurred yesterday between a journalist and police officers.
“Reference altercation between a journalist and policemen at Basugaon, Chirang, SP @chirangpolice has been directed to take appropriate action against erring policemen. The incident is regretted and @assampolice personnel are being adequately sensitized,” GP Singh wrote in his tweet.
Reference altercation between a journalist and policemen at Basugaon, Chirang, SP @chirangpolice has been directed to take appropriate action against erring policemen. The incident is regretted and @assampolice personnel are being adequately sensitised.
— GP Singh (@gpsinghips) February 7, 2022
The S. DGP also urged all Assam Police Personnel to follow road safety norms while on duty or otherwise.
It may be mentioned that police officers beat journalist Jayanta Debnath when the latter questioned them about breaking traffic laws. When the journalist questioned two cops about not wearing helmets while riding their bikes, the incident was reported from Basugaon.
Jayant Debnath, in response to the assault, claimed, “Two police officers on a motorcycle were not wearing helmets; my only mistake was that I questioned them, asking what message they were sending to the broader public. In full daylight, they abused and battered me. They were even more enraged when I told them I was a journalist.”
It may be mentioned that the journalist Jayanta Debnath was assaulted by policemen after the former questioned them on flouting traffic rules. The incident was reported from Basugaon when the scribe questioned two cops for not wearing helmets while they were riding bikes.
“In Assam, the police have been given unrestricted powers, which they are abusing. I’d like to inform the government of Assam that you make laws, yet your own people break them. I pleaded with the administration to act quickly. They might have shot me dead if the incident had happened at night. I am astounded by their actions ” he added.
An FIR was also filed, and Chirang Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Laba Kr Deka said that all essential steps are being done in the case.
“We are taking the required measures in this case based on Jayant Debnath’s FIR against two constables. The two constables have been ‘reserved closed,” he explained.
Meanwhile, the journalist has been admitted to the hospital. He was admitted to the Lower Assam Hospital in Bongaigaon for advanced treatment.