Journos Booked for Dhulagarh Riots Coverage Claims Zee News Editor

The journalists were booked under section 153A by the West Bengal government.

Police personnel in the riot-hit Dhulagarh. (Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@Joydeep_911)

A non-bailable warrant was issued against Zee News editor Sudhir Chaudhary, reporter Pooja Mehta and camera person Tanmay Mukherjee on Tuesday under section 153A by the West Bengal government, The New Indian Express reported.

The charges were levied for Zee News’ coverage of the Dhulagarh riots in Howrah district of West Bengal.

Sudhir Chaudhary took to Facebook to share the news:

The Zee News editor also expressed his anger on Twitter:

Also Read: Violent Clashes in West Bengal’s Dhulagarh That No One Knows About

A report published in The New Indian Express states that the Mamata Bannerjee-led West Bengal government believes that reporting on such communal issues would only alleviate the problem, leading to more clashes. This is the reason not many local media houses have reported on the issue.

The report added that the Sankrail Police Station was yet to confirm the filing of the FIR. However, the publication furnished a copy of the same in their story.

Chaudhary also suggested independent investigation in Dhulagarh to reveal the truth. But the town has been heavily barricaded post 12 December when communal violence erupted between two communities following Milad-ul-Nabi celebrations. Media presence in the town is also restricted.

Support started pouring in for the editor and reporters soon after Chaudhary shared the news on social media. Hashtags #ISupportSudhirSir and #EmergencyInBengal started trending soon after.

(With inputs from The New Indian Express)