July 17, 2020: The National Human Rights Commission has registered a case against the midnight-arrest of DY365 correspondent Rajib Sharma. The case has been registered on the basis of a complaint by human rights activist Monojit Singha. 

Sharma, the Gauripur correspondent of DY365 was picked up by Dhubri Police from his residence at around 2 AM on Thursday and was later arrested. Sharma’s was the only attendant of his father - a paralysis patient - at the time of his arrest.  Unable to bear the shock caused by the police behavior, his father passed away.

Later, Sharma was granted interim bail on Thursday afternoon due to his father’s demise.

Mr Singha, in his complaint has alleged that the journalist was targeted for his continuous reporting on corruption in the forest department and subsequently exposing it. Based on his complaint, the NHRC has registered a case no. 123/3/4/2020.

It may be stated that Sharma’s arrest has evoked state-wide reaction with people criticizing the vindictive action by the police. Journalists’ bodies, politicians and civil society organizations alike have condemned the arrest and demanded his early release.

Dhubri’s Superintendent of Police Yuvraj Singh has been targeted for arresting a law abiding journalist from his home at midnight but not having courage to act against the various syndicates going on in the district. It is alleged that he connived with DFO Biswajit Rai to frame Sharma in a fabricated case.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the state BJP too met Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and brought the matter of the journalist’s arrest to his notice. 

Following the public outrage against the district police chief, the Western range DIG has transferred the case to DSP, Bongaigaon Amitraj Choudhury.