14 Dec 2019: In solidarity with press members of Assam, the press fraternity of Arunachal Pradesh staged a protest rally here today in condemnation to the police brutality at the Prag News Channel office and government censorship on Pratidin Times (Assam).

The Arunachal Pradesh Union of Working Journalist (APUWJ), Arunachal Press Club (APC), and the Arunachal Electronic and Digital Media Association (AEDMA) have strongly condemned the police, and both the central and the Assam government for its attempt to muzzle the press from reporting the widespread protest in Northeast against the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, that was passed on December 11 last.

“We want free press in a democracy like India, we are the voice of the people and press should be allowed to function without any censorship and without any repressive policy,” said APUWJ president, Amar Sangno.

Sangno also questioned the motive behind the internet shut down in Assam and other parts of the North East.

Condemning the act, he termed it as a violation of human rights and freedom of expression.

Recently, the Union Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in an advisory to all private television channels had asked it to avoid showing content that could incite violence or cause law and order problems or ‘anti-national’ feelings.

In a viral video, police can be seen barging into the premise of the ‘Prag News’ Channel office in Guwahati and beating camerapersons with their batons.