Tripura scribes press for CBI probe into reporter’s murder

Agartala, Oct 2 (IANS) Journalists in Tripura on Monday held an hour-long sit-in here demanding a CBI probe into the murder of local television journalist Santanu Bhowmik on September 20.

Eleven journalists' organisations, led by Tripura Newspaper Society President Subal Kumar Dey, held the demonstration in front of Mahatma Gandhi's statue near Raj Bhavan on the Mahatma's 148th birth anniversary.

They vowed to continue the agitation until the state government asks the Central Bureau of Investigation to inquire into the killing.

"Before and after the killing of journalist Santanu Bhowmik, there has been negligence on the part of Tripura Police. If the CBI probes the killing, the truth would come out," Dey said while addressing the demonstration.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (Southern Range) Arindam Nath told IANS that so far three people, including main accused Sachin Debbarma, have been arrested for the killing of the 28-year-old journalist, who went to Mandai (35 km north of here) to cover the violent activities of a tribal party.

Meanwhile, a Special Investigative Team (SIT), constituted by the state government to probe the killing, has already started its inquiry.

The five-member SIT is headed by senior IPS officer Inspector General of Tripura State Rifles and Training G.S. Rao.

The other members of the SIT are IPS officer and Deputy Inspector General (CID) Uttam Majumder, Additional Superintendent of Police Kishore Debbarma, Deputy Superintendent of Police (CID) Prithwish Bhattacharjee and Inspector Nityananda Majumder.

Police said 29-year-old Jiban Debnath, driver of a private vehicle, was still missing since September 20 and a search was on for him.

A journalist of a Delhi-based newspaper had hired the private vehicle to visit Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council headquarters at Khumulwng along with a local guide.

Police, quoting the FIR, said members of the Indigenous People's Front of Tripura attacked them and set the vehicle afire. While the journalist and his guide reported to the police on September 21, the driver continues to remain missing.