March 26, 2025: Journalists protested in Guwahati today against the alleged politically motivated arrest of senior reporter Dilwar Hussain Mazumdar.
Mazumdar, who works for The CrossCurrent and serves as the assistant general secretary of the Guwahati Press Club, was taken to court on the same day, where the police requested a five-day remand.
Protesters, including journalists, editors, activists, and student groups, gathered outside the Guwahati Press Club in Ambari.
They condemned the arrest, viewing it as an attempt to suppress press freedom and silence dissenting voices.
The demonstrators chanted slogans criticizing the state police and authorities before forming a human chain and proceeding towards the Pan Bazar police station.
Tensions escalated briefly as police personnel tried to prevent their advance.
Similar protests also took place in Jorhat, Dibrugarh, and Biswanath, where journalists demanded Mazumdar’s immediate release.
Mazumdar’s detention occurred on March 25 following his attempt to question Dambaru Saikia, Managing Director of the Assam Cooperative Apex Bank, regarding allegations of a multi-crore recruitment scam.
A video shared by The CrossCurrent showed Mazumdar engaging with Saikia, who suggested continuing their discussion in his office. Shortly thereafter, Mazumdar received a call from the Pan Bazar Police Station and was detained for nearly 12 hours.
