Santu Pan, who works with Republic Bangla channel, was booked based on allegations of barging into the residence of a local woman, the police said.
“He was arrested after a preliminary inquiry. The court today remanded him to three-day police custody,” said Additional Director General (ADG-South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar.
The case against Pan was registered under Sections 447-448 (trespassing), 354 (outraging modesty) 354-C (voyeurism), 509 (insulting modesty of a woman), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
The arrest drew massive criticism from the Editors Guild of India, other press associations, and even political parties.
“His arrest while on duty is worrisome,” the Guild said in a statement, adding that the police should indeed investigate if such allegations have been levelled against Pan “but to take him away while he is reporting is indeed a cause for concern”.
“The Editors Guild calls on the administration in West Bengal to conduct a speedy inquiry and ensure that no injustice is done to Mr Pan. “The government must also do everything it can to protect freedom of the press,” the Guild said.
Also, the Press Association, National Union of Journalists, India (NUJI), and Delhi Journalists Association (DJA) voiced concern over Pan’s arrest.
Demanding an immediate release of the arrested journalist, NUJI and the Delhi Journalists Association condemned the arrest and announced an agitation against it.
At a meeting in the national capital, the two bodies said that the media was being strangled by imposing an undeclared emergency in West Bengal.
The Kolkata Press Club said, “We demand his immediate release. If there is any specific allegation against him, it is subject to investigation. But the Kolkata Press Club registers its protest against the arrest of an on-duty journalist.”
Meanwhile, BJP MLA and Leader of Opposition in Assembly Suvendu Adhikari blacked out his profile picture on his social media handles for 24 hours to show solidarity with the arrested journalist.
“I condemn this brazen attempt of the TMC government to stifle the media,” he posted.
Earlier, BJP’s IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya took to his X handle, ” In an assault on media, WB police has arrested Republic Bangla journalist Santu Pan, who has been covering the rape and torture in Sandeshkhali. Unable to arrest Shahjahan Sheik and quell women’s protest, Mamata Banerjee is now targeting the media…”.
Defending the arrest, TMC spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya said, “Someone entered a house where a woman was not adequately dressed and he started live-streaming despite her repeatedly objecting to it. The police did the right thing. BJP’s IT cell head (Amit) Malaviya is crying hoarse because one of their own is behind bars. He was completely silent when reporters got arrested in their party-ruled states.”
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sent a notice to the West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) over a complaint alleging that the journalist was “unlawfully detained,” officials said.
The Commission in a statement said the allegations raise a serious issue of violation of human rights and also restriction on the freedom of the press.
Taking cognisance of a complaint, the NHRC said, “Without any prior notice, the police encircled the victim, assaulted and forcefully took him into illegal custody.”
The complainant, the journalist’s wife, has alleged that “she has no access to him and is concerned about his well-being.”
The NHRC directed the DGP to “submit a report on the matter within two weeks.” It also asked the DIG (investigation) to find out facts by telephone and submit his findings to the Commission within a week, officials said.
— With PTI inputs