Journalist arrested in Bengal; BJP, Congress allege gag on press freedom

The opposition, however, linked the arrest to Bagchi’s recent articles highlighting hooch traders operating from Sanjoal residential area in Kharagpur Municipality, which was won by the TMC in last year’s civic body elections.

Bagchi and one Basanti Das were booked under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354B (assault or use of criminal force with intent to disrobe), 509 (uttering any word or making any gesture intended to insult modesty of a woman), and under provisions of the Scheduled Caste & Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act on a complaint lodged by the woman on August 28, police said.

According to police, the woman alleged that on August 27 evening, she and her in-laws were standing outside their house when Bagchi allegedly hurled abusive and casteist remarks at them. When they protested, Bagchi assaulted her, she alleged.

In his last few articles, published in Anandabazar Patrika, Bagchi reported on illegal hooch business in Kharagpur Municipality area. In one article, he reported on how the local administration was indifferent towards the issue, while in another article, he highlighted how those involved in hooch trade had gheraoed houses of people who had complained against them.

Condemning Bagchi’s arrest, Congress MP and party’s leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury wrote a letter to CM Mamata Banerjee Sunday, seeking her intervention. “The arrest of Debmalya Bagchi would deliver a wrong message to the Indian body politic. In view of the above, you are requested to do what is needed to save and protect the fourth pillar of democracy and oblige,” he wrote.

On Monday, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, alleged he was not allowed to meet Bagchi in jail and claimed there was a “semi-Emergency like situation in West Bengal under Mamata Banerjee’s authoritarian regime”.

“I raised my voice earlier when Mamata’s police arrested Bagchi for highlighting the menace of hooch traders… Even yesterday at the Ghatal rally, I reiterated my stance. Now, the police and jail authorities under the specific instructions of Mamata Banerjee have gone a step further and aren’t allowing people to meet him,” Adhikari posted on X..

When The Indian Express reached out to Anandabazar Patrika, the editor of the newspaper refused to comment.

The Trinamool Congress has also refused to speak on the issue. “I don’t want to make any comment on this matter,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said .