Mamata Banerjee curbing press freedom in West Bengal: Anurag Thakur

PTI, Feb 20, 2024, 8:48 AM IST

Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has condemned the Mamata Banerjee-led government in West Bengal after police took away a television journalist reporting on the violence in Sandeshkhali.

”Instead of taking action against goons misbehaving with women, the West Bengal government is putting curbs on the media and trying to muzzle freedom of the press. This is very unfortunate,” Thakur said on Monday.

A reporter of the television channel Republic Bangla was taken away by the West Bengal Police while he was reporting on the developments in Sandeshkhali.

Thakur said a state run by a woman chief minister is turning a blind eye to the travails of women in Sandeshkhali.

Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24-Parganas district has been tense with a large number of women in the locality accusing Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of ”land-grab and sexually assaulting” them under coercion.

Sheikh has been absconding since January 5 when a mob attacked Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers during a raid at his residence in connection with an alleged ration scam.

Two of Sheikh’s aides, who along with others were booked under charges of gang rape and attempt to murder, have been arrested.