Itanagar, Mar 26 (PTI) The Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) on Wednesday condemned the arrest of senior journalist Dilwar Hussain Mozumder by Assam Police in Guwahati.

Mozumder, the chief reporter of The Cross Current, was performing his journalistic duties when he was taken into custody after attempting to question Dambaru Saikia, the managing director of the Assam Co-operative Apex Bank, about allegations of a recruitment scam.

Also Read | Anil Tiger Dead: Jharkhand BJP Leader Shot Dead in Broad Daylight in Ranchi, Accused Arrested; Police Suspect Land Dispute as Reason Behind Murder.

"The incident, which unfolded during a public protest by the Jatiya Yuva Sakti, the youth wing of the Assam Jatiya Parishad (AJP), is deeply disturbing and raises serious concerns about the state of press freedom and the right of journalists to hold those in positions of power accountable. That a journalist was detained merely for seeking answers from a public official in connection with a matter of public interest is unacceptable in a democratic society," the APUWJ said in a statement here.

"Such actions not only intimidate the press but also erode public trust in the institutions meant to uphold transparency and accountability. We view this as an attempt to muzzle independent journalism and dissuade journalists from carrying out their fundamental duty of informing the public," APUWJ president Amar Sangno said.

Also Read | Kunal Kamra-Eknath Shinde Row: Shiv Sena Leaders Meet Pune CP Amitesh Kumar, Seek FIR Against Stand-Up Comedian.

The APUWJ stands in solidarity with Mozumder and urges authorities to respect the constitutional protections guaranteed to journalists and to refrain from using coercive tactics to suppress the freedom of the press.

"We further appeal to journalist bodies across the Northeast and the country to unite against such transgressions and continue to advocate for a media environment free from fear and intimidation," the statement added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)