By Kaveesha Fernando
TRIPURA, India (CWBN) – In a suspected bid to prevent citizens from accessing details of alleged corruption in the state agriculture department, around 6000 copies of the Pratibadi Kalam newspaper are reported to have been snatched and destroyed in Tripura’s Gomati district while being transported.
Pratibadi Kalam Editor, Anol Roy Chowdhury, alleges that 11 people forcefully unloaded the newspaper bundles and destroyed them – burning half and throwing the rest away after tearing them. He feels the series of reports published by the paper alleging a Rs. 150 crore scam at the state agriculture department was the reason the paper was targeted. The Pratibadi Kalam, a daily newspaper, had published detailed reports of the alleged scam in the days immediately prior to the attack. Chowdhury said he would not relinquish the fight to seek justice.
Gomati District Police Superintendent, Lucky Chowhan, stated that a probe was underway to identify the culprits. Press associations in the area have demanded that those responsible should be found soon and that stern action should be taken in this regard – one association has even stated that they will demonstrate in front of the police headquarters if the perpetrators are not found within 24 hours. The state Department of Agriculture has refused to make a statement on this matter.
Edited By Chathushka Perera
