Police summon Assam mantri over ‘threat’ to scribes

Morigaon Police have summoned Assam minister Pijush Hazarika for allegedly threatening two journalists with dire consequences over a phone call. Police said a case has been registered and statements of both the parties are being recorded.
Nazrul Islam, a journalist with a local TV news channel, on Thursday filed an FIR at Jagiroad Police Station in Morigaon district where he alleged that the minister threatened him by saying, “I will drag you to the streets... break your leg... and nowhere kori dim (will obliterate you).
As soon as the audio clip of over five minutes of conversation with the journalist and the minister went viral, Congress filed a memorandum to the poll panel against Hazarika.
Morigaon Police have summoned Assam minister Pijush Hazarika for allegedly threatening two journalists with dire consequences over a phone call. Police said a case has been registered and statements of both the parties are being recorded.
Nazrul Islam, a journalist with a local TV news channel, on Thursday filed an FIR at Jagiroad Police Station in Morigaon district where he alleged that the minister threatened him by saying, “I will drag you to the streets... break your leg... and nowhere kori dim (will obliterate you).
“We have registered the case and investigation has been started. Police have seized the phones of the minister and the journalist for a voice test to know whether the call recording was genuine. We have summoned the minister to record his statement and he will give his statement on Sunday,” a senior police official told TOI.
As soon as the audio clip of over five minutes of conversation with the journalist and the minister went viral, Congress on Thursday filed a memorandum to the poll panel against Hazarika alleging that the BJP leader’s words were in violation of the model code of conduct.
Hazarika is trying to retain the Jagiroad seat which went to polls on Thursday. In the audio clip that was shared widely on the social media, a person, believed to be Hazarika, is heard apparently intimidating Nazrul Islam, a journalist with Pratidin Times channel, and another journalist Tulsi, for airing a report related to his wife Aimee Baruah.
Police said that Nazrul is cooperating during the investigation but Tulsi is yet to meet the police.
The report relates to a campaign rally by Baruah, who is also a popular actor in the state, in Jagiroad. In it, she is heard allegedly saying that those who do not accept the Citizenship (Amendment) Act will be chased out of not just Assam, but the country.
Baruah later told a local channel that the statement was misrepresented and apologised if she had hurt any sentiments unintentionally.
Hazarika on Saturday evening said he was not involved in threatening the journalists. “I respect journalists. My phone has not been seized. As the matter is under investigation, I will not make any comment on it,” the minister added.