Discourse Over Assam Reporter’s Arrest Reveals Need for Media Literacy

Chief Minister Claims Dilwar Hussain Mozumder Is Not a Journalist

March 31, 2025

Assam-based news reporter Dilwar Hussain Mozumder was released from judicial custody on March 29 after securing bail in the second case against him. However, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s response seems to reveal a lack of understanding regarding what constitutes journalism and who qualifies as a journalist.

Mozumder, who serves as chief reporter for the digital news outlet The CrossCurrent and as assistant general secretary of the Gauhati Press Club, was initially arrested by Guwahati police late night on March 25. At the time, he was covering a protest against Assam Co-operative Apex Bank (ACAB), according to The New Indian Express.

Mozumder faced two separate cases. The first, filed by a bank employee, accused him of verbally abusing a tribal security guard and trying to steal files from the bank. He obtained bail in this case on March 26 but was promptly re-arrested the following day in connection with a second case filed by the bank’s managing director, Dambaru Saikia.

Mozumder’s arrest had led to significant backlash from journalists, political parties and civil society organisations across Assam, who viewed it as an attack on press freedom. Journalists held protests in Guwahati and other cities, with opposition political groups, including Congress, Raijor Dal, and a coalition of Left parties, joining the demonstrations.

On March 28, Mozumder was granted bail again, this time in the second case, and after completing the necessary formalities, he walked out of custody thew following day. Upon release, he expressed gratitude for the strong support shown by fellow journalists, legal professionals and civil society groups.

Protesters expressed their dissatisfaction by burning effigies of Chief Minister Sarma of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who is the director of the ACAB, with BJP MLA Biswajit Phukan serving as the chairman.

Addressing the controversy, the Chief Minister insisted that Mozumder’s arrest had no link to his journalistic activities. He described Mozumder as a businessman who merely worked part-time for a digital news portal owned by a politician. “He is not a journalist but a businessman who worked part-time for the digital news portal, which is owned by a politician,” he was quoted as saying.

In India, press freedom is implicitly included under the broader constitutional right to freedom of expression granted to all citizens, as the Constitution itself does not explicitly mention “press freedom.” This means that the freedom of the press is essentially an extension of the right of every citizen to express themselves. It allows any individual the liberty to write and publish their views through various media outlets, including everything from newspapers and magazines to digital platforms.

Press freedom in India is not a privilege confined to a select group of “professional” journalists, but a fundamental right accessible to all Indians, including “part-time” journalists. So, one can be both business man and journalist.

By emphasising that Mozumder is a digital journalist, the Chief Minister seemed to suggest that digital media should not be taken seriously, as anyone can start such a media outlet.

Let’s look at what journalism is. It fundamentally involves the collection of information that is of public interest, followed by a meticulous process of verification to ensure accuracy and reliability. The essence of journalism is to disseminate this verified information to a wide audience for informed public consumption, whether through traditional newspapers, television broadcasts or online platforms. So, digital media is neither less nor more significant than any other media.

Further, politicians, like any other citizens, have the right to own media outlets. People have the autonomy to choose which media outlets they want to access and to determine their trustworthiness. The essential role of the government is to respect and uphold the freedom of all media types, irrespective of ownership. This ensures that every media outlet has the opportunity to operate freely and contribute to the public discourse, leaving the evaluation of credibility and relevance to the audience.