2 scribes held for salacious article on Assam minister

Assam police on Wednesday arrested two journalists of a digital news channel on charges of spreading salacious rumour maligning the father-daughter relationship about senior Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and his minor daughter.

Two others associated with two different digital platforms have also been detained by the police for sharing the photo with sensational comments and content. They are Puli Muchahary of Bodoland Digital and Nang Noyonmoni Gogoi of Spotlight Assam.

Police said that Taufiquddin Ahmad, editor-in-chief of Pratibimba Live news editor Iqbal were arrested by the Dispur police in Guwahati on Wednesday and are being questioned to probe if there was a conspiracy behind airing such news.

The ADGP (Law and Order) GP Singh in a social media post said that the case has been lodged under section 509 of IPC for insulting modesty of a woman as well as Sections 14 to 21 of the POCSO Act for spreading “salacious news article about an honourable minister of government of Assam and attempts to malign familial bond”.

“People are strongly advised not to give air to such attempts since posting such pictures with malicious intention attracts provision of POCSO Act. Assam Police would take strong action against all such attempts under stringent provisions of POCSO Act,” Mr Singh stated in a tweet from his official Twitter handle.

“Action shall be taken against all persons irrespective of their place of residence who use any of the social media platforms to maliciously use such platforms for furthering their conspiracy,” he added.

The minister in his reaction said that he was surprised by the “conspiracies” to target him.

“My wife has lodged a police case in this regard. I am surprised that people would stoop so low,” Mr Sarma told reporters.