Assam Women Journalists’ Forum
Equality, Empowerment, Excellence
Press Release
26.03.2025
The Assam Women Journalists’ Forum condemns the detention and subsequent arrest of journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder and demands his immediate release.
The detention of Dilwar Hussain Mozumder, chief reporter for The CrossCurrent, on March 25, 2025, has sparked significant concern among journalist communities, including the Assam Women Journalists’ Forum.
Mozumder was detained by the Panbazar police after he attempted to question the managing director of the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank during a protest by the youth wing of a political party against allegations of a multi-crore recruitment scam linked to the bank.
Reports indicate that Mozumder was summoned to the police station following his interaction with the bank’s Managing Director and was held for several hours without formal charges being disclosed at the time.
His spouse, lawyer and colleagues across different media organisations were barred from meeting him, owing to which his medication for diabetes could not be administered to him. Mozumder, who is also the Assistant General Secretary of the Gauhati Press Club, was arrested after midnight under Section 351(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal intimidation or the act of threatening someone to harm them or force them to do something, read with relevant sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The Assam Women Journalists’ Forum condemns this attack on press freedom, and demands Mozumder’s immediate release. Detaining a journalist for simply doing his job—seeking answers on a matter of public interest—raises serious questions about democratic principles and the State’s treatment of the press.
The details shared also reveal a worrying violation of Mozumder’s personal rights, including the denial of medical attention for his diabetes, which further highlights the harshness of the situation.
The Assam Women Journalists’ Forum’s call for Mozumder’s immediate release is a demand not just for his freedom, but for the protection of press freedom in Assam and across the country. It’s vital that the state ensures that journalists can carry out their duties without the threat of arrest or intimidation for doing so.
Durba Ghosh
President
Nasreen Habib
General Secretary
