AGARTALA, Dec 3 (TIWN): Tripurainfoway.com Editor Saumen Sarkar’s interview with local TV channel Hallabol has become viral and widely shared, drawing other states, national, international media attentions. USA’s ‘Reporters without Borders’, one of the largest Global organization to protect media rights now helping TIWN in it fight to uphold freedom of speech. With Tripurainfoway.com Editor Saumen Sarkar has brought serious allegation against Tripura police’s mafia machinery which had been active to suppress media voice and killed one senior journalist Sudip Datta Bhaumik back in 2017 and still continues under Additional DGP Rajib Singh and SP West Ajit Pratap Singh, is now going viral with national media also taking interest to know about the ongoing attacks upon Tripura media which have been called termed by ‘Saddam Hussein’ era under Biplab Deb’s Govt. National news media as Northeast Now has quoted Sarkar, “It had become practically impossible for journalists in Tripura to expose wrongdoing because they are harassed and meted out life threats”.

However, when state govt has denied the allegation, the news media has referred the recent attack took place on a daily newspaper “Daily Desher Katha” which was shutdown by force by the District Magistrate followed by one of the BJP Minister’s open challenge to the newspaper about the consequences, which was however couldn’t be successful due to High Court verdict in favour of “media”. Another leading Northeast media TNT also published the news condemning Govt's attempt of intimidation to media, but when TNT asked, SP West denied that he didn't do any such offence. However, a legal case has been filed against the SP. According to High Court’s order, in any case, publication of a news media can not be stopped.

Tripurainfoway.com Editor received bold support from readers, from all sections of intellectual people as well as victims of the system, including Govt employees.

The bold move of Saumen Sarkar for exposing police corruption by filing FIR against SP West Ajit Pratap Singh who sent an email claiming Saumen Sarkar is a “criminal” and his media too. Sarkar said, he will see police corruption in the court of law and will prove SP Ajit Pratap is a criminal. At the same time, police in mafia style is attacking journalists and the ill parents even after serving legal notice. Tripura police’s role of harassing senior citizens are full-proved by TIWN. TIWN staffs, related / non-related / half related journalists, photographers even their old parents have been illegally harassed by Tripura police, so that all staffs should leave TIWN / resign. 

Tripura is right now undergoing “Media Revolution” amid BJP Govt’s attempts to kill the war-itself.

For the first time, public came in protest voicing against the shutdown of various media houses including a Govt channel named Mrinalini Enn.

Viewers of Mrinalini Enn channel of Agartala staged a protest at Sristi Cable centre which operates all channels from Agartala Office.

The interview of saumen Sarkar which is going viral he told the TV channel Hallanol, "Instead of cooperating with media and learning how to develop the state with news input, Biplab Deb using his police force to spot who is writing against the Govt and teaching how to attack the media".

Saumen Sarkar also revealed how his 82 years old father and 76 years old mother were harassed by police multiple times who has no link with the website. 

"East Agartala PS OC-Debasish Saha and SDPO Suman Majumder have asked my parents how I am running the media from America, whereas they have no link with my website and I am living in US since 20 years. They (Police) are going without any paper, any notice but showing the faces, threatening", Saumen Sarkar told Hallbol channel.

"I am under Govt outrage because before the election they (BJP) thought like other media, we will tolerate everything, but Tripurainfoway is run by American domain and it’s totally non-profitable media. Thus, I have that freedom to write under US Govt, whereas if other channels broadcast like my channel either the Editor will be attacked and his family will be targeted at home by mafia or killed, which already held in Tripura earlier", he added.

"My photographers are no more working. Day after day police attacked my Agartala office and asked who writes in Tripurainfoway.com ? SPO Suman Majumder, OC-Debasish Saha said they are instructed by Additional DGP Rajiv Singh for such activities", Sarkar told Hallabol anchor.