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July 05, 2025 – India –
Journalist Madhurjya Saikia of Prag News was brutally attacked by a mob while covering a political clash in Silapathar, located in Assam’s Dhemaji district. Saikia had been dispatched to report on tensions between the BJP and Gana Shakti supporters over the selection of a local Panchayat president. According to his account, upon arrival, he was identified by a local leader and soon encircled by 30 to 35 individuals, who beat him severely and stole his mobile phone while he was filming.
Saikia suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized in Dibrugarh. He filed an FIR the same day (Case No. 146/2025), but no arrests were made for four days, prompting criticism of police inaction. Eventually, seven suspects were detained, including four arrested in Jonai.
The attack sparked widespread condemnation. The All Assam Mising Students Union (AAMSU) blamed local BJP leaders for fostering a climate of impunity, while the Assam Congress accused the ruling party of enabling a pattern of violence against journalists. Media bodies, including the Guwahati Press Club, demanded justice and stronger protections for the press.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma acknowledged the assault but controversially suggested that “disunity among journalists” mirrored the infighting of political parties, a remark seen by many as deflecting from the core issue of press safety.
This assault follows a similar incident just days earlier. On June 29, Bimaljyoti Nath, a reporter for ND24, was attacked while reporting on illegal mining in Dhekiajuli. His camera was damaged, and he was physically assaulted. Police later suspended two officers for investigative lapses.
Such back-to-back incidents point to a deepening pattern of intimidation against journalists in Assam, especially those covering politically sensitive issues or corruption. Media watchdogs warn that the freedom to report is under threat, and that physical violence is becoming a tool to silence dissent.
As the outcry grows, press unions continue to demand not only arrests and prosecution but the enactment of legal safeguards for journalists working in conflict zones. The assault on Madhurjya Saikia has become a rallying point for calls to defend press freedom in India’s northeast.
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