Press Club of India Condemns Attack on Asomiya Pratidin Office

way2barak, April 13:  Press Club of India on Monday strongly condemned the recent attack on the office of Asomiya Pratidin in Assam, expressing serious concern over what it described as a shrinking space for journalism in the state.

In a press release issued on April 13, the PCI said the vandalism at the newspaper’s Lakhimpur office on April 10 was carried out by unidentified persons just hours after Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made public remarks against the Pratidin media group and satellite channel DY365.

The apex journalists’ body noted that the incident occurred in the backdrop of the recently concluded Assembly elections, pointing to a “disturbing pattern” of attacks on media houses. It also highlighted reports of newspaper copies being burned in Upper Assam around the time of polling.

The statement read, “PCI is highly concerned about the shrinking space for journalism in the north-eastern state, particularly during the run-up to the just-concluded assembly elections, within which the April 10 attack on Asomiya Pratidin can be located. It also includes burning of hundreds of copies of the newspaper in Upper Assam by unidentified forces close to the April 9 voting day.”

Raising alarm over increasing hostility towards the press, the PCI said journalists were subjected to repeated verbal attacks during the election campaign for asking questions, an essential democratic right. It reminded the Chief Minister that holding public office entails accountability to the media and citizens.

“During the election campaign, the Chief Minister was seen on many occasions verbally attacking reporters from various media organisations both within and outside the state for posing him questions, a right the media holds in a democracy. The PCI wants to remind the chief minister that he holds a Constitutional position and is answerable to the Press in the interest of citizens, however uncomfortable the questions may be. Questioning the government of the day or a political leader in public interest is journalism,” the PCI statement added.

The PCI has called for an immediate, impartial, and time-bound investigation into the attack, urging authorities to identify those responsible and bring them to justice.

Additionally, the organisation flagged concerns over the alleged suspension and blocking of several social media accounts of journalists and content creators, including that of media influencer Afzal Bin Sohail. It warned that such actions threaten freedom of expression and livelihoods.

“Such anti-democratic steps must not be taken by the world’s largest democracy,” the PCI said, reiterating its commitment to safeguarding press freedom.