Guwahati-headquartered channel's journalist hospitalised in Silchar after attack: 24 hours, no arrest

In March 2022, under the instruction of the Chief Minister of Assam, Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Cachar’s then-SP, Ramandeep Kaur, launched an operation that became famous as “All Out.” The mission of this operation was to uproot the illegal syndicate operating the Burmese Areca Nut (Burmese Supari) trade and the subsidised fertiliser scam.

As part of the operation, influential individuals were arrested one after another. One of the most prominent arrests was that of Abub Ahmed Mazumdar. Mazumdar, a resident of Malugram in Silchar, was initially a local businessman but quickly emerged as a tycoon. On March 11, 2022, he was officially put behind bars by then-SP Ramandeep Kaur. This marked the end of Operation ‘All Out,’ as Abub Ahmed Mazumdar was quoted as the “mastermind” behind the syndicate.

The case was later taken to the Gauhati High Court, which granted him bail after due proceedings. Following his release, Mazumdar, like many others, returned to business as usual. However, Mazumdar has kept a list of journalists who had reported on his arrest and has since been targeting them one by one.

The latest victim of Mazumdar’s wrath is Samin Sen Deka, a reporter for a Guwahati-headquartered satellite channel, residing in Silchar. On Thursday, Samin Sen Deka was allegedly locked and assaulted by Abub Mazumdar. Recounting the incident, Deka said, “Yesterday, when I went to the market near my home, an acquaintance approached me and asked for my number. Since I knew him, I gave it to him. He then told me that Abub wanted to meet me at his office for some exclusive news and asked me to go there alone. Being in the media, I didn’t think much of it and went. Shortly after, Abub arrived, locked the room, and began discussing the news report I had done on him two years ago regarding the Burmese Areca smuggling case. He said it was now his turn to teach me a lesson and started hitting me.”

“He threatened to frame me with charges of extorsion and hand me over to the police. Later, he also warned me, saying that as an Assamese from Nalbari, my days of reporting in his area were numbered,” Deka further revealed.

Following the incident, journalists from Silchar united and staged a demonstration outside Malugram Police Station, demanding justice and the immediate arrest of Abub Ahmed Mazumdar. Shankar Dey, the general secretary of the Silchar Press Club, condemned the incident, asserting that if swift action is not taken against targeted assaults on the media, journalists across Barak Valley will escalate their protests.

Shankar Dey stated, “Abub Ahmed Mazumdar is an infamous criminal, known for smuggling. Anyone who comes in his way is threatened with their life. In the past, he had kidnapped many people and threatened to kill them. He has been arrested several times, but each time he came out and resumed his activities.”

Sources indicate that this is the third journalist Mazumdar has attacked for covering news about his arrest. His list of targets allegedly includes a portal that published his wedding images and photos with the Chief Minister of Mizoram.

When an SP briefs the press about the arrest of the mastermind behind the Burmese Supari scam, the media reports it as part of its duty. If the Press is now under attack for fulfilling its responsibilities, it becomes the police’s duty to ensure their security. Twenty-four hours have passed since the incident, and Deka is being treated at the Silchar Medical College and Hospital, yet Cachar Police have not made an arrest. Meanwhile, threats to settle the issue have reportedly been directed at the family members of journalists.