Tripura: The Tripura Journalists Union (TJU) met Tripura Governor Shri Indrasen Reddy Nallu to discuss the lack of progress in the investigation and trials of the brutal murders of two journalists that took place in 2017. The meeting, held at Raj Bhavan, Agartala, was aimed at highlighting the injustice and delays that have denied justice to the families of the victim journalists Santanu Bhowmick and Sudip Dutta Bhowmick. In a formal letter submitted to the Governor, TJU President Pranab Sarkar and General Secretary Alak Ghosh emphasized that the Union, which is affiliated to the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) and International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), works tirelessly to protect the rights of journalists in Tripura.
Their concerns were primarily focused on the murders of Santanu Bhowmick on September 20, 2017 and Sudip Dutta Bhowmick on November 14, 2017. Both were murdered in broad daylight – Santanu during a political rally in Mandwai and Sudeep while reporting at the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) headquarters in Bodhjungnagar, West Tripura. The TJU expressed deep disappointment at the minimal progress in the investigation and prosecution of the accused involved in these heinous crimes. Despite the passage of seven years, the families of the victims are still waiting for justice, which, according to the union, is continuously getting delayed, giving rise to fears that justice may ultimately be denied.
The union expressed concern that attempts are being made to shield those responsible, calling on the Governor to issue directions to expedite the prosecution and trial processes, to ensure that the accused criminals are brought to justice. The journalist community in Tripura expects the authorities to take necessary action to ensure accountability and uphold press freedom, which they believe has been affected due to the unsolved murders of their colleagues. This meeting and the letter mark a vital appeal for justice and a renewed effort for accountability in long-standing cases that have deeply affected the press community in Tripura.
