Media fraternity stands with Anirban, writes to CM for immediate withdrawal of ‘baseless’ sedition charge

Dec. 4: The media fraternity stood besides journalist Anirban Roy Choudhury and expressed their solidarity in a meeting convened by them in the auditorium of Madhya Sahar Sanskritik Sangstha. On Sunday afternoon,  large number of journalists from various media houses and media associations of Barak Valley assembled in support of their fellow journalist Anirban Roy Choudhury against whom complaint was registered under various section of the IPC including the the sedition law.

The FIR was filed by one Santanu Sutradhar from Silchar. It is in this connection that a case vide No. 4221/21 U/S 153(A), 124(A), 501 and 505(2) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against Anirban. The FIR was lodged as against a piece of editorial written by Anirban Roy Choudhury and published in Barak Bulletin on 28 November, 2021. Investigation Officer of the case at Silchar Police Station, Atikur Rahman issued a summon under Sec. 91 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 to Anirban Roy Choudhury on the basis of the FIR lodged by complainant Santanu Sutradhar. It is in this connection, that the Investigation Officer directed journalist Roy Choudhury to appear before him at 11 AM on 6 December, 2021.

During the protest meeting veteran journalist Jyotilal Choudhury vehemently criticised the act of the state against the media. He said that such attempt to gag the voice of the media is most unwelcome. He assured solidarity towards Anirban and said that the press fraternity is united to fight against the baseless complaints made by an individual.

Senior journalist Pranabananda Das also in the same tune said that indiscriminate use of sedition law and that too against the press is indeed a unhealthy for the democracy. All media persons present there rain angered against such attempts of targeting journalists. Abhijit Bhattacharjee said, “The police till now has failed to apprehend the killer vehicle which crushed our colleague Molin Sharma to death, whereas the same police for reasons best known to them have slammed sedition charge against another of our colleague, which is indeed very unfortunate.” Other senior journalists Riten Bhattacharjee, Arijit Aditya, Tilak Bhattacharjee, also shared similar views.

Expressing his views, Anirban Roy Choudhury said, “I am grateful to the media fraternity, general public for the immense support. Your love, affection and blessings are pillars of strength. I will be tried for sedition. An FIR has been registered by the police U/S 153 – A, 124 -A, 501 and 505 of the Indian Penal Code for publishing an article on Barak Bulletin, a hyperlocal portal that I co-own. I will fully cooperate in the investigation and report to the Silchar Sadar Police Station on December 6, at 11:00 am. However, as the founder of Barak Bulletin, I assure, Barak Bulletin is not scared. Barak Bulletin will continue to serve the governed and if that means writing against the governors, we will!!! Long Live Independent Journalism.”

Later on a memorandum was drafted to be sent to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner, Cachar. In the memorandum , the media fraternity wrote, “A fellow journalist has been framed without any basis against him…This is indeed a blow to the 4th pillar of democracy wherein a journalist has been booked under sedition for writing an editorial. Media is the mirror of the society and such baseless allegations against a journalist by all and sundry is indeed a great blow to democracy and freedom of the press… A casual glance at these sections levied upon the journalist speaks volume of utter lies and whims and fancies of the person who lodged the complaint… The media fraternity of Cachar strongly denounce such attempt of framing the journalists on unfounded grounds. It’s the primary duty of the press to uphold the truth and bring it to the limelight so that wrongs can be undone in the future. This incident has left a scarmark on the history of media. On this backdrop, we appeal to you to give necessary directions so that the baseless charges levied upon Anirban Roy Choudhury be immediately withdrawn and the press be allowed to function without any fear or favour.”

Meanwhile, Indian Journalists Union (IJU) expresses concern over the slapping of sedition charges against a journalist from Assam’s Barak valley and urged the authority to withdraw the case against Anirban Roy Choudhury.

Also Read: Indian Journalist Union expresses serious concern over sedition charge against Silchar journalist