Agartala, April 29: The Tripura police on Sunday arrested a freelance journalist and a cop from Agartala for spreading rumours about the state Chief Minister Biplab Deb. The journalist has been identified as Saikat Talapatra. Meanwhile, the identity of the cop is still not revealed. According to reports, the two were arrested for sharing a Facebook post by one Anupam Paul, in which he claimed that Biplab Deb's wife Niti Deb had filed a divorce suit in Delhi's Tees Hazari court, officials said. Tripura CM Biplab Deb's Divorce Reports Fake; Wife Calls it 'Cheap Publicity'.

Inspector General of Police (IGP) Puneet Rastogi said, “The police constable was arrested after a case was registered against him for sharing the Facebook post.” A case has already been registered against Paul, who is currently on the run, they said. Talapatra was arrested two days after police lodged an FIR against Paul. Biplab Deb Files FIR Against Facebook User For Spreading Fake News of His Divorce, Wife Dismisses 'Dirty Rumour'.

Meanwhile, the chief minister has described the post as a "deep-rooted conspiracy" to tarnish his image. "It is a baseless and motivated post which is in bad taste." His wife Niti Deb has also denied that she has filed any divorce suit and said, "Rumours have no mouth, only dirty, filthy and sick minds...." Jamal Hussein, a security guard of Communist Party of India (Marxist) lawmaker Islamuddin, was arrested on April 28 on similar charges, reported Hindustan Times. The state BJP had demanded that the administration take the strictest action against those involved in it.

(With inputs from PTI)

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