Guwahati, April 3: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of the arrest of journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumdar and has issued a notice to Assam’s Director General of Police (DGP), demanding a detailed report within four weeks.
Mozumdar, a reporter for The Cross Current and assistant general secretary of the Guwahati Press Club, was detained while covering a protest outside the Assam State Cooperative Apex Bank in Guwahati on March 25. The demonstration called for an investigation into alleged financial irregularities at the bank.
According to reports, Mozumdar was taken into custody at Panbazar police station after questioning the bank’s managing director about the alleged mismanagement of funds. However, authorities did not provide any specific reason for his detention.
“The Commission has observed that the contents of the news report, if true, raise the issue of violation of the journalist’s human rights,” the NHRC said in an official release.
Journalist associations and civil rights groups have condemned the incident, calling it an attack on press freedom. Many have urged authorities to uphold journalists’ rights and ensure accountability in cases of wrongful detention.
The NHRC’s intervention signals growing concerns over press freedom in the region, with watchdogs closely monitoring the case for further developments.
