Anandabazar Patrika journalist arrested after reporting about unlawful hooch commerce in Kharagpur, says BJP’s Suvendhu Adhikari

On seventh September, chief of the opposition and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) West Bengal MLA Suvendu Adhikari stated that Anandabazar Patrika journalist Debmalya Bagchi was arrested after a report on hooch sellers was revealed within the newspaper. Accusing media and left-liberals of sustaining silence on the arrest, he narrated the chronology of occasions that led to Bagchi’s arrest.

Journalist arrested by Police in West Bengal. No media outrage & condemnation by the pseudo liberal & mental brigade, because the stated Journalist does not have any PFI hyperlink.

Chronology of occasions:-

August 27, 2023 – A information article will get revealed within the Kharagpur version of the… pic.twitter.com/TAOMkRkwcK

— Suvendu Adhikari • শুভেন্দু অধিকারী (@SuvenduWB) September 7, 2023

On twenty seventh August 2023, the Kharagpur version of Anandabazar Patrika revealed a report highlighting hooch merchants working from homes within the residential space of Sanjoal in Ward No 24 of Kharagpur Municipality.

As per the report, Basanti Das and different girls of the locality fashioned a gaggle and labored collectively to lawfully impede the unlawful commerce of illicit alcohol within the space.

In his publish on X (previously Twitter), Adhikari identified that due to the unrestricted commerce of illicit alcohol or hooch within the space, the youngsters had been getting concerned, and the ward ambiance turned unsafe for the ladies. They went to the police searching for assist however they had been reluctant to behave. Furthermore, the ladies sought assist from the native councilor and chairperson of the Municipality however couldn’t get anybody to behave on their criticism.

Following the article, the administration and police allegedly obtained rattled, resulting in the arrest of some drunkards within the space. Adhikari stated it was accomplished to comprise the general public outrage within the backdrop of hiding the principle operators of the unlawful enterprise.

Interestingly, on twenty eighth August, the family members of hooch merchants filed a criticism in opposition to the ladies who initially went to the police to file a criticism in opposition to the unlawful enterprise. Police sprung into motion and filed an FIR beneath Section 3(1)(r)(s) of The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. In the criticism filed on twenty seventh August, the complainant accused the ladies of attacking them and utilizing castist slurs. She additionally accused the lady of pulling her garments and injuring her.

On seventh September, Anandabazaar Patrika revealed one other report highlighting the hooch sellers’ assault on Basanti Das and different complainants.

The report identified that seven homes within the space are indulged within the enterprise of illicit hooch commerce within the space. The girls have been complaining about it for over two years, however the police or the administration took no concrete motion.

As per the report, the sellers surrounded the homes of the complainants and kicked the door. They demanded to withdraw the criticism. The lady referred to as the police, however they arrived round one hour after the decision. However, the police claimed they reached the spot quickly after receiving the decision.

Journalist Debmalya Bagchi was allegedly picked up by the police from his residence within the aftermath of the stories revealed by Anandabazaar Patrika.