Reporter shot days after threat by Nagaland Deputy CM Y. Patton
New Delhi: A week after Nagaland deputy chief minister and senior BJP leader Y. Patton publicly threatened a reporter at a village meeting, the journalist was shot in Manipur’s Senapati district.
The victim, Deep Saikia of Hornbill TV, was covering a flower show on August 30 in Laii village when he was shot in the leg and armpit. According to local police, the assailant was apprehended by villagers. Timothy Ronamai, Officer-in-Charge of Tungjoy Police Station, confirmed that an FIR had been registered and said Saikia was in stable condition, though a bullet remains lodged under his arm.
The attack follows a confrontation on August 23, when Patton, also Nagaland’s home and border affairs minister, singled out Saikia during a public meeting in Wokha district. The BJP leader rebuked and threatened the reporter over a Hornbill TV news report in which villagers alleged Patton and local MLA Achumembo Kikon had not visited the border area during Assam’s eviction drive at the disputed Rengma Forest Reserve. Patton was heard in a video clip saying he had asked “some people” to chase Saikia away from Naga areas and warned him against asking questions.
Hornbill TV has condemned the attack as a “direct assault on press freedom and democratic values,” urging the government to act swiftly. Several press organisations, including the Kohima Press Club, Mokokchung Press Club, and the Press Club of India, have criticised Patton’s earlier threats and demanded accountability.
The Press Club of India stated that journalists’ duty is to give voice to citizens, not to serve as public relations officers for ministers, warning that Patton’s conduct violates constitutional guarantees of press freedom under Article 19.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
