Cachar Police Arrests “Fake Journalist” For Blackmailing Cleric

In a shocking incident, Sayan Ahmed Choudhury, a self-proclaimed journalist associated with a fake news channel “Barak News,” has been arrested for extortion and blackmailing a cleric of Dungripar in the Sonai Police Station jurisdiction of Cachar District.

Choudhury claimed to have compromising videographic evidence of the cleric, threatening to broadcast the material unless his demands were met. Posing as a journalist with influential connections, including ties to DIG Southern Assam Range and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sharma, Choudhury demanded 1.5 lakh rupees from the cleric. Due to financial constraints, the cleric could only pay 5,000 rupees initially, promising to pay the remaining amount monthly.

The cleric, hailing from Dungripar village, described the harrowing events. “Last night at 10:44 I got the first call from the person who claimed to be a journalist. He said he had some videos about me which will be released if the matter is not solved by tonight (July 20). Later he came to my home with some other people and blackmailed me saying that he had some videos against me which if released could harm my image. He had an identity card and a mic on his person other than his mobile. He demanded 1.5 lakh rupees as he had some other people also involved in the same report. I replied, that I had no money. He then negotiated the amount and it came down to 30 thousand rupees. When I denied giving any money, he said he had police with him and they were waiting outside in the police van to arrest me if I didn’t comply. He then started to show his connections with the SP and DC of Cachar and also showed a picture of him with the DIG Sir”, said the cleric.

Seeing those connections and a joint photo with DIG, the cleric and his mother were shocked and out of fear of her son being arrested, the old lady somehow managed and handed over Rupees Five Thousand to the fake journalist Sayan Ahmed Choudhury. When the mother and son duo asked where the police were and that they wanted to talk to the police team that they had handed over the cash, the fake journalist said, they were in the car outside and he would show them. Later he escaped in his car with the money.

Upon investigating, the cleric and his mother discovered that Choudhury was not affiliated with any legitimate news channel but was running a Facebook page under the guise of “Barak News.” They promptly filed an FIR at Sonai Police Station, leading to Choudhury’s swift arrest today. This incident highlights the growing concern about fake journalists exploiting individuals for monetary gain.