Police arrests ABP(Anandabazar Patrika) journalist Debmalya Bagchi for highlighting the menace of Hooch Traders in Ward No. 24 of the Kharagpur Municipality.
On 27th of August, a news article gets published in the Kharagpur edition of the Anandabazar Patrika, highlighting the menace of Hooch Traders who are operating out of their homes within the residential area of Sanjoal; Ward No. 24 of the Kharagpur Municipality. The article highlighted the efforts made by Smt. Basanti Das and the other ladies of the locality who tried their best to lawfully obstruct the illegal trade which was catering to teenagers and poisoned the environment so much that women weren’t feeling safe.
They sought help from the Police, local Councillor & Chairperson of the Municipality, but everyone was reluctant to act. The article created ripples as the inaction of Police & Administration and illegal Hooch business operation within residential area got highlighted. Police detained a few drunkards to contain public outrage but the main operators managed to hide. The Hooch Traders gheraoed the complainant’s home and threatened her of dire consequences if the complaint isn’t withdrawn.
On 28th of August, the Hooch Traders’ relatives lodge a complaint against the complainant and the Journalist who covered the story. Police springs into action, acknowledges the complaint of the Hooch Traders’ relatives and registers FIR under Section 3 (1) (r) (s) of The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
Yesterday, the Police arrested the journalist Debmalya Bagchi.
Mysteriously, Anandabazar Patrika is silent on this arrest of their staff journalist.
