Now, Tripura BJP minister says two women journalists came to ‘instigate violence’

Agartala: Hours after the two women journalists were granted bail by the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court in Gomati district, the Information and Cultural Minister Sushanta Chowdhury said that the duo came to the state with the intention of disturbing peace and harmony in Tripura. They have spread false news at the instigation of political parties to malign the Tripura government.

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Addressing a press conference, Chowdhury said that on November 11, Samriddhi K Sakunia and Swarnna Jha came to Tripura and went to Unakoti district and made provocative speeches to the people of the minority section.

“They spread false news from their Twitter accounts. So, the police asked them to cooperate as there was a case against them. But, instead of cooperating, they wanted to run away,” Chowdhury said.

Chowdhury also insisted there were no incidents of arson or vandalism in mosques and assault of minorities in Tripura. However, the two women entered Tripura with the identity of journalists and spread fake news, he said.

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“The two journalists had come to Tripura as accomplices of political parties. They wanted to land in Tripura. Why were they afraid to call the police if they had not done anything wrong. Why did they flee to Assam instead of flying to Delhi via Agartala?” the BJP minister questioned.

“Whatever happened in Maharashtra was because of a section of journalists like Saamriddhi and Swarna Jha who came to Tripura on behalf of a party to create communal instigation and malign the state in front of the country. We doubt if they are journalists in the first place or have come here to work as agents,” Chowdhury added.

In an oblique reference to Trinamool Congress, Chowdhury said that anti-social elements were being brought to the state as salesmen to brainwash people against the government, ruling BJP party and the chief minister.

“The conspirators may create any situation of law and order to grab the power from the back doors,” Chowdhury said.

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Earlier on Sunday, a Tripura police statement said that the duo were earlier found involved in spreading communal hatred at Pal Bazaar under Fatikroy PS under North Tripura under which the concerned police station had registered a case against the duo and they were served with notices U/S 41A Cr.PC. They were supposed to appear before the investigation agency by November 21, according to their convenience, the police said.

On Monday, the Court granted conditional bail to two young journalists accused of spreading false and fabricated news of alleged communal violence in Tripura.

Tripura police arrested them after they were detained by Assam’s Nilambazar police station on Sunday. Police produced them over to the Chief Judicial Court in Gomati district on Tuesday.

The court granted bail to Samriddhi K Sakunia and Swarnna Jha, both journalists of news portal HW News Network, after paying a personal bond of Rs 75,000 each and appearing at Kakraban police station on Tuesday. The court has asked them to appear before the investigating officer on the first day of every month and not leave the country until further orders.

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