Police officer suspended for ‘lapses’ in journalists assault case in Assam
Tezpur (Assam) (PTI): A police officer in Assam’s Sonitpur district was suspended following allegations of lapses in the enquiry of a case of assault on journalists by miscreants, an officer said on Friday.
Two journalists were beaten up and injured on June 29 in Dhekiajuli area when they were returning after covering a development over alleged illegal mining activities.
The officer in-charge (OC) of Raikhasmari police outpost, Charu Rajbongshi, who was initially closed to reserve on Wednesday, was suspended later, Sonitpur Additional Superintendent of Police Madhurima Das said.
The two scribes, Bimaljyoti Nath and Bipul Phoyel of Guwahati-based satellite channel ND 24, sustained serious injuries.
Protests against the incident were staged by various organisations, including Dhekiajuli Press Club and All Bodo Students Union, who demanded stringent action against the culprits.
Four people were arrested in the case, but three of them have already been released on bail.
Allegation of lapses in the enquiry by Rajbongshi was raised as the main accused Dilip Nath is still absconding.
The release of three other accused on bail also led to charges of inadequate investigation by Rajbonghsi, leading to him being closed to reserve and subsequently arrested, official sources said.
The son of the main accused is currently in judicial custody, the sources added.
The additional SP said the car used by Nath has been recovered from near Rowta in neighbouring Udalguri district on Wednesday morning, while search for the main accused is still on.
“Investigation in the matter is going on and we will share further details in due course,” Das added.
Nath claims to be associated with a news portal and is known for filing applications under RTI in various government departments.
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UP Cong chief Ajay Rai hospitalised after fainting, stable
Lucknow (PTI): Uttar Pradesh Congress president Ajay Rai was hospitalised here after he fell unconscious due to low sodium levels, party leaders said on Saturday.
They said he was admitted to Medanta Hospital on Friday evening and is stable.
"Ajay Rai was admitted to Medanta Hospital in Lucknow at around 6 pm on Friday after he fell unconscious as his sodium levels had dropped. He fell unconscious at his residence in Lucknow. For the entire day, he was engaged in party programmes and had also gone to the airport," Uttar Pradesh Congress spokesperson Anshu Awasthi told PTI.
Congress in-charge of Uttar Pradesh Avinash Pande told PTI, "Now, he (Ajay Rai) is stable and I am also reaching Lucknow."
Medanta Hospital Director Dr Rakesh Kapoor told PTI that Rai collapsed at his home on Friday evening and was subsequently admitted to the hospital's emergency ward.
Medical examinations revealed that Rai was suffering from a sodium deficiency and elevated blood pressure. Doctors administered immediate treatment and he is doing significantly better now, Kapoor said.
A team of doctors is monitoring his health. Rai is conversing with others and his condition is stable, he added.
In a post on X late Friday night, Prime Minister Narendra Modi wished Rai a speedy recovery.
Rai hails from Varanasi and had contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against Modi from the parliamentary constituency. The Congress appointed him as the Uttar Pradesh unit chief in 2023.
