After UP, Assam journalist shot at, thrown out of car

A journalist of an Assamese daily was abducted, tortured, shot at and dumped by suspected NDFB(S) terrorists for writing against the outfit, police said on Friday.

The incident happened on Thursday night when the journalist, identified as correspondent of 'Asomiya Pratidin' Prashanta Kumar, was returning to Khairbari on his motorcycle, after dropping his friend, a police official said. 

He was abducted by a gang in a car, tortured by the abductors who claimed themselves to be NDFB(S) cadre, <g data-gr-id="28">Bhergaon</g> Sub-Divisional Police Officer  (SDPO) Nirupam Hazarika said.

"The suspected NDFB(S) terrorists shot him on his left arm and threw him out of the car near <g data-gr-id="30">Tangla</g> area," he said, adding that Kumar managed to go to a nearby house, asked for help from people, who called the police.

The journalist was then rushed to a local hospital, which referred him to the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, the SDPO said. The official said the victim is out of danger.

"Kumar was actively writing against the extortion drive by NDFB(S) in the area and highlighting the ongoing anti- terrorist operations in the district," he said, adding the journalist's abductors also ordered him not to write about the outfit.

Hazarika said <g data-gr-id="20">police</g> was carrying out search operations in and around the area to nab the culprits.

Khairabari Press Club and other journalist bodies in Udalguri have condemned the incident and urged Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to take appropriate action against the culprits so that scribes of rural Assam can report on sensitive issues without fear.