GUWAHATI: A freelance journalist in Assam has been threatened with dire consequences by a man who was allegedly involved in the thrashing of a couple for "immoral" act. The couple was thrashed with sticks by a group of people following a trial by a kangaroo court.
The incident, which occurred at Rangjuli in western Assam's Goalpara district on June 17, came to light after a video of it, shot clandestinely by the journalist Monowar Hussain, was aired by local news channels. Fearing for his life, Hussain has filed an FIR with the police. The 21-year-old freelances for a web media, a TV channel and an Assamese daily.
The police said they were searching for the accused Abdul Qader who has gone into hiding. "Hussain was threatened as his video brought to light the entire incident of thrashing of the couple. We are looking for the accused Qader. He will be arrested soon," police inspector Bhabesh Biswas told The New Indian Express. The accused deals in tractors, the police officer added. Hussain said he had stopped venturing out of his home following the threat.
"I was there that day when the trial of the couple was going on. The organisers warned everyone present there, including me, not to film the trial. However, I somehow managed to film the proceedings. Qader threatened me later on learning about my act," Hussain said.
"I have filed a case with the police as I fear for my life. I have stopped stepping out of my home," he added. The police have, so far, arrested three people in connection with incident. Those arrested include one Kurban Ali, who was the trial court "judge".
Following the kangaroo court's pronouncement of judgement that day, some locals had thrashed the couple with sticks and forced them to marry for their alleged illicit relationship. The spectacle was witnessed by almost the entire village.
The locals caught the duo on June 17 after the man, who is married, had spent the previous night at the house of the woman who is a divorcee. Two days after the trial, the marriage was solemnised by a cleric and the next day, the duo left for Hyderabad for work.