In a statement on Friday, the Digital Media Publishers and Journalists Association strongly condemned the “systematic and calculated harassment of journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumdar” and Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s remarks about the journalist.
Mozumdar, who works for digital portal The Crosscurrent and is the assistant general secretary of the Guwahati Press Club, was first arrested within hours of covering a protest against a cooperative bank on Tuesday. Despite being granted bail on Wednesday, Dilwar Hussain Mozumdar remained in jail through Thursday as he was re-arrested on the basis of another complaint. In the early hours of Friday, his home was searched by the police.
The DIGIPUB statement noted that “instead of intervening in the matter amid protests by journalists, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said that Mozumdar is not even a ‘real’ journalist as he works for a digital portal and is not accredited. Sarma is also the director of the same cooperative bank which faces accusations of irregularities.”
DIGIPUB’s statement condemning the targeted harassment of journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumdar pic.twitter.com/dc8C7YzZ8l
— DIGIPUB News India Foundation (@DigipubIndia) March 28, 2025
“In an era where Prime Minister Narendra Modi champions Digital India and digital transformation, such statements from a chief minister are not just contradictory but retrograde. Moreover, it is not the first time Sarma has questioned the background of a journalist. In August last year, he had drawn flak for allegedly targeting the religious identity of a journalist who had asked Sarma about hill-cutting in his constituency,” read the statement.
Speaking to Newslaundry about the incident in August, Shah Alam, from local web portal NewzNow, had said that he felt “humiliated”. “As a journalist, it was my duty to ask questions. I asked him a genuine question. Moreover, a report of hill cutting in his constituency was telecasted by mainstream news channels…but instead of answering my question, he went after my name to indicate my religion and give it a communal colour.”
DIGPUB said that every journalist, regardless of their medium or religion, deserves protection, respect, and the fundamental right to report without fear of persecution.
“DIGIPUB demands the immediate and unconditional release of Dilwar Hussain Mozumdar, withdrawal of all fabricated charges against him, and a thorough investigation into the circumstances of his repeated arrests. We also urge the state government to issue a public apology for its actions.”
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