NHRC takes cognisance of journalist detained after he went to cover a dharna in Guwahati

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India, has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that on 25th March 2025 in Guwahati, a journalist of a digital news portal was called at Panbazar police and detained after a dharna in front of the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank Ltd, which he had gone to cover.

Reportedly, the journalist had questioned the Managing Director of the bank on the alleged financial irregularities, though no reason was cited for his detention.

The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise the issue of violation of the journalist's human rights. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Director General of Police, Government of Assam, calling for a detailed report in the matter within four weeks.


NHRC stated that according to the media report the protestors were demanding a high-level inquiry into the alleged financial irregularities in the management of the bank and strict action against those responsible.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had said individuals working for online portals are not recognized as journalists under the state government’s rules.

Multiple cases were slapped on Dilwar Hussain and he got bail in the cases.

The journalist from Guwahati based news portal was arrested under Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for allegedly abusing a guard of the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank.

Sarma had stated in X, “It has come to my notice that some media houses have reported the arrest of a journalist by Assam Police. I would like to clarify that Assam Police has not arrested any journalist in recent times”.

Sarma categorically stated that the Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) does not officially recognize journalists from online news portals.

“He works for a portal, and we do not recognize people working for portals as journalists. In Assam, no individual employed by a portal is recognised as a journalist. I believe he is just an individual, and there are speculations that he is a businessman. He owns dumpers and operates as a part-time journalist for a portal. The portal in question is a politician promoted”.

He questioned “How will we know whether he went to the bank for news coverage or for other purposes? How will other journalists claim he was there as a journalist.”

Sarma asked, “If you all provide me with a written statement affirming that he is a journalist and take full responsibility, I will release him right now,” Sarma stated.

Mozumder is also assistant general secretary of the Gauhati Press Club.
Journalists in Guwahati staged a protest at the Guwahati Press Club against Mozumdar’s arrest, calling it an attack on press freedom. There were protests in different places of Assam demanding his release.