Sedition charge levied upon journalist Anirban in an FIR lodged on Saturday

Dec. 4: Now sedition charges have been levied upon a journalist of Barak Valley! In a surprising development, an FIR was lodged at Silchar Sadar Police Station against Anirban Roy Choudhury, co-owner of news portal Barak Bulletin. 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.

In his complaint letter addressed to Superintendent of Police, Cachar, the complainant Santanu Sutradhar wrote, “In connection to the arrest of Pradip Dutta Roy, Barak Bulletin, an online news portal has been repeatedly publishing articles supporting the act of Pradip Dutta Roy and questioning the intention of the Govt and Police and even questioning the impartiality of the judiciary. In a recent article with the title :-“Welcome to the Paradise of the Spineless- We are Assamese ,”Bhasha Shaheeds are dead and so are their descendants,” the writer Anirban Roy Choudhury tried to incite hatred against the Assamese community, and also ridiculed our Hon’ble CM on his remarks on this issue . The article carries venom against the Assam Police and questions its impartiality in handling of the case of Pradip Dutta Roy.”

“As a responsible citizen and a first generation Entrepreneur having a vision of an United and Economically developed Assam , I feel that articles like this will hamper the brotherhood between the Bengali and Assamese of Assam. I therefore request you to kindly take appropriate steps against the above mentioned News portal ie; Barak Bulletin,” added the complainant.

The details of the sections imposed on Anirban Roy Choudhury are: The purpose of the Section 153 A is to punish persons who indulge in wanton vilification or attacks upon the religion, race, place of birth, residence, language etc of any particular group or class. The offence is a cognizable offence and the punishment for the same may extend to three years, or with fine, or with both. Under Section 124A of IPC, the offence of sedition is committed when any person by words or otherwise brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the government established by law. Section 501 of IPC deals with Printing or engraving matter known to be defamatory.—Whoev­er prints or engraves any matter, knowing or having good reason to believe that such matter is defamatory of any person, shall be punished with simple imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both. Statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill will between classes is stated in IPC 505.

Meanwhile, the filing of sedition clause and other sections against Anirban Roy Choudhury has led to great resentment among the media fraternity. Taking to several social media platforms, journalists termed this as very unfortunate. A section of senior journalists in this connection has called an urgent meeting to discuss this issue at the conference room of Madhya Sahar Sanskritik Sangstha at 12 noon on 5 December.

Taking to his Facebook wall, journalist Anirban Roy Choudhury wrote, “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.”

Also Read: BDF chief Pradip Dutta Roy arrested for allegedly opposing ‘Assamese hoardings’ in Silchar