Assam Journalists Alleged Parag Bhuyan Was “Assassinated”
Guwahati:
The Assam government ordered an investigation after a rural journalist from Tinsukia district Parag Bhuyan and the brother of former Assam minister Jagadish Bhuyan died in a hospital on Thursday after being run over by a vehicle at excessive speed under “mysterious circumstances” Wednesday. near his home in Kakopathar, 550 km east of Guwahati.
Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal offered his condolences. “The late Parag Bhuyan has made a significant contribution in the field of journalism and his death is an irreparable loss to society. I convey deep sympathy to the bereaved family and pray for the eternal peace of the deceased soul,” said Mr. Sonowal.
The Chief Minister’s media advisor, Hrishikesh Goswami, also offered his condolences to the journalist’s family.
Police seized the vehicle that ran over Mr. Bhuyan and arrested his driver James Murha and handyman Baba Bordoloi from Namsai in Arunachal Pradesh, on the edge of Kakopathar.
Pratidin Time, the private Assamese news channel where Mr. Bhuyan worked, said in a statement that he had been “murdered”.
“The speeding vehicle struck him just outside his home and escaped through a police checkpoint. This morning, only after the Chief Minister intervened through the DGP, the police were intervened and seized the vehicle, 15 hours after the incident. The initial approach of the police gave us reason to be wary of the whole incident and we suspect that the courageous journalist was murdered while making a series of reports denouncing illegalities and corruption in the Kakopathar region. He had also received threats, “Pratidin Time editor-in-chief Nitumoni Saikia said.
Mr. Bhuyan was admitted to Aditya Nursing Home in Dibrugarh in critical condition. He died while he was being treated.
Mr. Bhuyan was also vice president of the Tinsukia District Journalists Association.
The Guwahati Press Club has asked the DGP of Assam to form a special investigative team to investigate the case within a limited time frame.
“The circumstances in which the senior journalist lost his life hint at a criminal act, making it a suitable case for a high level investigation,” said Guwahati Press Club chief Manoj Kr Nath and General Secretary Sanjoy Ray in a statement.
