DUJ Condemns Attack on Pratidin
11/04/2026
New Delhi,April 11 (KIP)-The Delhi Union of Journalists(DUJ) expresses its condemnation of the cowardly attack on the office of the newspaper Asomiya Pratidin in Lakhimpur in the early hours of April 10, 2026. Stones were pelted at the office, shattering glass windows and landing in the newsroom. The attack, in which luckily no one was hurt, comes in the wake of several intemperate statements against the media made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.
The Pratidin management, in a press release has stated that, “this incident cannot be viewed in isolation”. It alleges that on the night before the attack Biswa Sarma “questioned the credibility and functioning of media houses such as Pratidin Media, suggesting bias and alleging that coverage is influenced by financial considerations.” The press release also points to remarks targeting Asomiya Pratidin editor Jayanta Barua suggesting he would be “politically and intellectually destroyed” after the Assam elections.
The DUJ notes that during the heated election campaign Biswa Sarma made several arrogant and derogatory remarks about the popular Hindi television show Lallantop, questioning its credibility. He also got into an angry argument with a BBC reporter who asked him a direct question about his dictatorial tendencies.
DUJ condemns all these controversial remarks and other adversarial comments made about the media by a powerful BJP Chief Minister. Politicians are expected to face and field critical questions from the media. We regret the growing hostility towards the media exhibited by the ruling party in Assam and expect it to desist from all such negative statements and actions against journalists and media establishments in the state in future.