Pratidin editor arrested for unlawful activities, says Assam govt

The Assam government says that Ajit Bhuyan, editor of the Assamese daily Pratidin, had been arrested on serious charges, denying claims by journalists, intellectuals and the Congress that it has something to do with what his newspaper had printed.

The state government said Bhuyan was arrested not as a newsperson but for his involvement in unlawful activities. However, the journalists at a protest meeting at the Guwahati Press Club criticised the state government's action while Congress MPs from the region met Union Home Secretary K Padmanabhiah in Delhi and condemned the arrest.

A state government statement said Bhuyan had been arrested under specific sections of the Prevention of Unlawful Activities Act. These section relate to the serious nature of offence against the state and integrity and sovereignty of the nation. ''No person, even if he is connected with a newspaper, can be spared prosecution if he is involved in such offences,'' the statement added.

Journalists and intellectuals in Guwahati have planned a protest march on Thursday, August 28, demanding Bhuyan's unconditional release.

Bhuyan was produced before the court on Tuesday at Nagaon and remanded to police custody for 72 hours. He was arrested as chairman of the Manav Adhikar Sangram Samiti, which allegedly has close links with the banned United Liberation Front of Asom.

The Assam government has also set up two inquiry committees to probe the killing of social activist Sanjay Ghose as well as of 11 people near Rangia recently.

Upper Assam Commissioner S L Vasaba will inquire into the circumstances leading to the abduction and killing of Ghose, beside the difficulties faced by the authorities to rescue him. The one-man inquiry commission will also look into the role of the district administration in tracing the slain secretary general of the Association of Voluntary Organisations for Rural Development (North-East) besides affixing responsibility. The committee is to submit its report within one month.

The other inquiry committee, to be headed by Lower Assam Commissioner N K Das, will examine the circumstances leading to the death of 11 people near Rangia on August 11.

EARLIER REPORT:
Editor held for alleged links with ULFA