PCI Slams Assam CM for Questioning Journalist Authenticity in Re-Arrest Case

The Press Club of India (PCI) on Friday sharply criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for attempting to define who qualifies as a “legitimate” journalist, following the re-arrest of senior digital media journalist Dilawar Hussain Mozumder by Assam Police on March 27 evening. Mozumder, assistant general secretary of the Guwahati Press Club (GPC), was detained hours after his bail release in a case involving alleged theft of bank documents while covering a protest tied to a recruitment scam. The PCI demanded Mozumder’s immediate release, accusing the state of undermining press freedom.

The PCI’s statement highlighted Sarma’s remarks as a distraction from the core issue—preventing a journalist from performing his duties, which the organization called a violation of press freedom under Article 19(1)(A) of the Indian Constitution. The re-arrest prompted a silent protest by journalists outside the Pan Bazar police station in Guwahati on March 27 night, where Mozumder was held. The PCI expressed solidarity with the GPC and the protesting journalists, urging authorities to stop targeting media professionals and focus on upholding constitutional rights.

Signed by PCI President Gautam Lahiri and Secretary General Neeraj Thakur, the statement reflects growing concerns over media suppression in Assam. The incident adds to a pattern of legal pressures on journalists in the state, raising alarms about administrative overreach. The PCI’s condemnation of Sarma underscores a broader call to protect journalistic integrity and ensure freedom of the press amid escalating tensions between the media and the Assam government.