Two women journalists have been detained on Sunday in connection with attempts of spreading communal hatred in Tripura. According to Tripura Police, the two detainees- Samriddhi Sakunia of Odisha and Swarna Jha of New Delhi are journalists by profession. An official release from Tripura Police headquarters said the two journalists have been detained with the assistance of Nilam Bazaar police station of Karimganj District in Assam.
“They are reportedly journalist by profession and have come to Tripura from outside the State on 11/11/2021. Their complicity has been transpired in connection with the Kakraban PS Case No. 2021 KKB 082 dated 14/11/2021 U/S 153A/153B/193/504/120B/204 IPC regarding creation of hatred between communities by fabricating, concealing of record etc in furtherance of a criminal conspiracy as revealed from the tweeter post posted by Samriddhi Sakunia,” the release said.
The release also said that in the social media post she had posted a video of her visit to the half burned prayer hall damaged by mischievous fire in the house of one Rahamat Ali of Hurijala under Kakraban police station on November 11 last and tried to claim that one holy Quran was burned in the incident occurred in the night of 19/10/2021 which refers to Kakraban PS Case No- 74/2021 U/S 436 IPC.
“This is contrary to the findings so far revealed in course of investigation as presence of no such damaged books/documents was brought to the notice of Investigating Officer and fire service staff who extinguished the fire,” the press statement said.
She was contacted over telephone by police Sunday morning and specifically asked to give details of the document visible in the video. She told that the document was available at the alleged place of occurrence and it was the responsibility of police to trace the document. She also informed the police that they would be leaving Tripura by flight from Agartala. She was then requested by the police officer to stay for sometimes at Agartala for her examination.
Further verification was made by examining the house owner Rahamat Ali by the investigating officer on Sunday and he stated that there might be some burned documents and these were taken away by a team from Delhi who visited the place of occurrence in the last part of October 2021. It may be mentioned here that a team of lawyers from Delhi visited the place on October 27 last and made a similar claim with a ‘questionable photograph’.
“Taking cue from the recent incidents of violence at Amravati and other parts of Maharastra as a repercussion of communal incident, it has become clear that some vested interest are trying to flare up the communal incident in Tripura and the Investigating Officer felt it wise to lodge a suo-moto complaint for creating hatred between religious group by false fabrication, concealing documents etc. this refers to Kakraban PS Case No. 82/2021, dated 14/11/2021 U/S 153A/153B/193/504/120B/204 IPC. But instead of coming to Agartala the two reporters made an escape towards Assam. On getting this information Assam police was contacted and they were detained at Nilam Bazaar PS at about 1500 hrs on 14/11/2021,” the release said.
A team of police from Dharmananagar women police station already left for Nilam Bazaar to bring the detained persons. The investigating officer of Kakraban PS Case No. 82/2021 also proceeded towards Dharmanagar for bringing the detained persons for further course of legal action.
According to the press release, the two persons were earlier found involved in spreading communal hatred at Paul Bazaar under Fatikroy police station in North Tripura district. This refers to Fatikroy PS Case No. 39/2021 dated 14/11/2021 U/S 120B/153A/504 IPC. They were served with notices U/S 41A Cr.PC and supposed to appear before the investigation agency by 21/11/2021 according to their convenience.
Meanwhile, Tripura Police requested the peace loving people of Tripura to remain calm and adhere to social norms.
