Guwahati, Feb 18: In a bizarre incident, atleast Six people linked to three Assam-based news portals, including at least two journalists, were arrested on Wednesday, the culprits were produced to court on Thursday for spreading with “salacious” intent a photograph of a state politician and his minor daughter.
Editor-in-Chief Taufiquddin Ahmad and news editor Iqbal, along with two other employees of Pratibimba Live, Puli Muchchary associated with Bodoland Digital and Nang Noyonmoni Gogoi associated with Spotlight Assam have been booked under Section 509 of IPC (insulting modesty of a woman) and sections 14 and 21 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
The websites had allegedly shared a photo of the politician and his minor daughter without mentioning who she was, after which it went viral.
Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) G P Singh told The Indian Express that a police complaint had been lodged by a family member of the politician, besides several others in various police stations in different parts of the state.
Police have taken strong action against all such attempts under stringent provisions of the POCSO Act, he said. They were arrested on the basis of a case registered at the Dispur police station.
The website had shared a photo of the minister hugging his daughter, following which it went viral on social media. The website later apologized for not mentioning that the girl in the photo was the minister’s daughter and blamed others for sharing it with the intent to defame Sarma. The news outlet received backlash on social media as well.
