GUWAHATI: A journalist was shot at and injured by suspected militants in Assam on Thursday night. Prasanta Kumar, who is a correspondent with vernacular daily Asomiya Pratidin, is now undergoing treatment at the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH). He is said to be out of danger.
The 42-year-old scribe said he was picked up from Khairabari area in the state’s Udalguri district on Thursday night and whisked away in a car by some gunmen, who identified themselves as members of the I K Sangbijit faction of insurgent group National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB).
He said the gunmen tortured him for a few hours before shooting him in the left shoulder. As he was bleeding profusely, the assailants dumped him at an isolated place, possibly thinking that he was dying.
Later, on hearing his screams, the locals rushed him to a nearby hospital, from where he was later shifted to the GMCH.
Condemning the incident, the Journalist Action Committee Assam (JAC) and Journalists’ Forum, Assam, (JFA) said Kumar was targeted for his recent anti-militant reporting.
“Attacks on media persons have been increasing across the country for their journalistic activities. The tendency has recently grown in lower and central Assam following the massive security operations against the tribal militants. The armed outfits are targeting the reporters for covering the anti-militant activities,” said a joint statement issued by JAC and JFA.
It urged Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to take action against the culprits.