(RSF/IFEX) – According to information released by RSF on 18 May 1998, Dhiren Chakravarty and Atanu Bhuyan, editor and executive editor respectively, of the Guwahati-based daily “Ajir Batori”, were woken up and arrested at 3:00 a.m. (local time) on Friday 15 May, by Assam state policemen (in the northwestern state of Assam). They are charged […]
(RSF/IFEX) – According to information released by RSF on 18 May 1998, Dhiren
Chakravarty and Atanu Bhuyan, editor and executive editor respectively, of
the Guwahati-based daily “Ajir Batori”, were woken up and arrested at 3:00
a.m. (local time) on Friday 15 May, by Assam state policemen (in the
northwestern state of Assam). They are charged with defaming Parliament and
its members after the publication, on 21 March 1998, of an article critical
of Parliament. They were taken to the Assembly to bow down before the
deputies. After they refused to do so, the Speaker ordered the two
journalists to be jailed for one day.
Earlier, in April 1998, Atanu Bhuyan was physically assaulted by
unidentified men at his house. The attackers are believed to have links with
the Assamese ruling party.
RSF is very worried by these new infringements of press freedom. Dhiren
Chakravarty and Atanu Bhuyan are, at least, the third and fourth journalists
arrested in the last five months.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
profession freely and be able to criticise the authorities in the respect of
the law
Appeals To
His Excellency Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
Office of the Prime Minister
New Delhi
India
Fax: +91 11 3016857
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
