News18 journalist beaten up by Assam Police while reporting near Assam-Mizoram border; 2 people injured

A journalist working for News18 Assam-North East was beaten up by the Assam Police near the Mizoram-Assam border on Saturday, the news channel reported . Police also fired in the air leaving two civilians injured.

#FreedomOfPress - News18 journalist baton-charged by Assam police while covering Assam-Mizoram border dispute. The journalist is presently in the hospital and being treated for injuries. pic.twitter.com/5LN7tMPZmk

— News18 (@CNNnews18) March 10, 2018

The reporter named Emmy Ci Lawbei had reached the border on Saturday morning. According to her, as she was reporting, members of a Mizo students’ body clashed with the Assam Police. A group of journalists, including Lawbei, were caught in the clashes and were lathicharged by the cops. The police also fired in the air to disperse the crowd in which two people were reportedly injured

The police had on Wednesday, clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPc with immediate effect of Hailakandi district, bordering Mizoram. According to the police, the move followed “information from reliable sources that some individuals and organisations from the Mizoram side are planning to intrude into Assam’s territory with the intention to encroach forest land and erect permanent structures, including religious structures.”

Tension has been prevailing in the area ever since some members of Mizo Zirlai Pawl (MZP), an apex student body, entered Assam and erected a working shed and a temporary checkpost, which were later dismantled by the state police personnel, according to the police.

The police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) officers will be stationed along the border

Last month, two journalists were assaulted on their duty sparking outrage.

With inputs from PTI