Mumbai: Arrest of Reporter – Journalists Take Out Silent Procession

Pics: Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai (SP)

Mumbai, May 20: In protest against the arrest of a journalist by the Government Railway Police (CGP) from the metro under Official Secrets Act for exposing lapses on the part of the railways in failing to properly preserve the hi-tech weapons supplied to them after the 26/11 terrorist attack, the journalists from the city took out a silent protest procession from Mumbai Press Club to the secretariat on Thursday May 19.

Members of Crime Journalists Association, Television Journalists Association, Marathi Patrakar Sangh, Marathi Patrakar Parishad, and representatives of various other journalists organizations came together at the Press Club premises for the procession.

Tarakant Dwivedi (Akela), while working for Mumbai Mirror, had exposed the recklessness on the part of the railway police in improperly storing the latest weapons provided to them, and had brought to light the fact that because of their casual approach, these arms were getting rusted under rain. At present, Dwivedi works for MiD Day Mumbai. He was arrested by the GRP on Wednesday May 18, relating the above story published in June 2010. This is the first time in the city that a journalist has been arrested under the Official Secrets Act. Dwivedi, who has been accused of trespass under the said act, has been booked under a non-bailable offence. He has been remanded to police custody.

The newsmen from the print and electronic media, who gathered at the Press Club on Thursday afternoon, demanded for the immediate suspension of Anil Mahabol, assistant commissioner of police of the city police force. Reportedly, Mahabol, who does not have the power to visit the railway police lock-up, had visited the place after allegedly expressing the desire to see Akela behind the bars.

Even though the journalists tried to meet Maharashtra home minister, R R Patil, at the secretariat, they could not meet him. When he was contacted over phone, Patil assured the journalists that he would look into the matter.

Both Marathi Patrakar Sangh Mumbai, and Mumbai Press Club have urged the home minister to immediately suspend the police officers who were instrumental in arresting Akela, and to withdraw the case registered against him under the Official Secrets Act.