ITANAGAR, Sep 21:  Shocked by the brutal murder of Shantanu Bhowmik, 28, in Tripura, Arunachal Press Club (APC), Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) and Arunachal Electronic Media Association (AEMA) have strongly condemned the barbaric act of the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT). 28-year-old Shantanu Bhowmik was on an assignment to cover clashes between the IPFT and the Tripura Rajaer Ganamukti Parishad (TRUGP) in Mandai, in West Tripura on Wednesday.  Shantanu was abducted by a mob and later found dead.

 Condemning the inhuman act, the Arunachal Press bodies, termed the killing of a young scribe, as an ‘attempt to muzzle’ the independent voice and freedom of press. Such brute force should be dealt with iron hand, so that crusaders of truths are protected, the joint statement read.

Expressing solidarity with the deceased family members as well as the press fraternity of Tripura, specially Tripura Journalists’ Union (TJU), the Arunachal Press bodies demanded exemplary  punishment for those perpetrators involved in the brutal murder.  Further, the fraternity urged Chief Minister Manik Sarkar’ government to ensure safety of journalists community in Tripura.

Meanwhile, at least four activists of the Indigenous People’s Front of Tripura (IPFT) were arrested by police in this connection.

Shantanu becomes the seventh Indian victim-journalist this year after the murder of Bengaluru based editor-journalist and social activists Gauri Lankesh (55) on 5 September last. Prior to her, Haryana based Television journalist Surender Singh Rana (35) was shot dead on 29 July.

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Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

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