Journalists Forum Assam (JFA) has expressed dissatisfactions over a higher court order preventing media coverage relating to any Bandh-call in Meghalaya and opined that in the days of robust alternate media in northeast India banning the newspaper and news channels for a particular cause makes little sense.
According to media reports from Shillong, the Meghalaya High Court in an order issued on 27 May 2015 has banned the media from publishing statements by organizations calling for Bandhs (shutdown/general strike) in the State which results in disruption of normal life.
The order came following Meghalaya police chief Rajiv Mehta recently requested the court to restrain the media from carrying statements by the Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council as well as other organizations calling for shutdowns and other forms of agitations.
The court directed that ‘the statements of HNLC or any organization which may disturb the even tempo of day-to-day public life and cause violation of fundamental rights of citizens in particular under Article 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India relating to strike, bandh, hartal, road blockade and holding of rallies with unlawful design shall not be issued by any of the print and electronic media’.
Earlier the Gauhati High Court in January 2010 declared all Bandhs illegal as it violates the fundamental rights of the citizens. The court also directed the government to take steps for preventing infringement of fundamental rights of the citizens on account of Bandhs. Prior to it, the Kerala High Court in 1997 also banned Bandhs and it was later upheld by the Supreme Court of India.
“On principle, we do not support the culture of Bandh, but the media’s right to report about a call for general strikes by any organisation in a democracy like India should not be curtailed,” said a statement issued by JFA president Rupam Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria. The JFA however pointed out that the media should not glorify any disruptive activities in the name of freedom of the press.
The JFA questioned that if the mainstream media was restrained from reporting the Bandh-call, who would prevent the social media-users from spreading the same. Rather in case of Bandhs, JFA argued, the authority should (must) take appropriate actions to maintain the civic amenities. The forum also demanded strong actions against those individuals, who adopt vandalism to impose Bandhs over the fellow citizens.
The Assam Pradesh Congress Committee on Friday launched the nationwide “Save MGNREGA Movement” in the state, opposing the Modi-led NDA government’s move to amend the MGNREGA Act and introduce a new law under the name “VB-G RAM G”.
As part of the first phase of the agitation, press conferences were held simultaneously at district headquarters across Assam, including Kamrup Metropolitan, Sonitpur, Lakhimpur, Dhemaji, Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Charaideu, Hailakandi, Darrang and Baksa. District Congress Committee presidents and senior party leaders addressed the media.
In Guwahati, senior Pradesh Congress spokespersons Kushal Sharma, Rupak Das and Anita Devi addressed the press at the...
A strong call to unite the indigenous communities of Northeast India on a common platform was made at a roundtable discussion held on January 6 to mark the 21st death anniversary of noted nationalist leader Nibaran Bora. The discussion, titled “Crisis of Indigenous Peoples of Northeast India and Its Solutions”, resolved to carry forward Bora’s vision and ideology for safeguarding indigenous identity and rights.
The meeting was attended by representatives of several indigenous organisations from Assam and other Northeastern states. Uncompromising nationalist leader Hasibur Rahman, a close associate of the late leader, delivered the keynote address, highlighting the growing threat to the...
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According to local media reports, Bairagi (45), a resident of Arua village in the Jessore region of southern Bangladesh, was fatally shot in the head by three assailants on January 5, 2026. The editor of the Bengali daily Dainik BD Khabar was found dead at Kopalia...
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Zaman, also known as Dr Hurairah and Kamaruddin, was awarded life imprisonment under Section 18 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), along with two additional sentences of five years’ simple imprisonment under other UAPA provisions. All sentences will run concurrently. The court also imposed fines in each case.
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An eerie silence is prevailing in Karbi Anglong and West Karbi Anglong districts following the death of two people belonging to different communities amid growing demand to evict the non tribals from the hills districts on Tuesday.
Mobile internet has been suspended and the authority has imposed some restrictions on public gatherings to ensure peace and tranquility in the tribal dominated hills districts.
Security forces are patrolling on the streets in the vulnerable areas to avert any untoward incident.
But the tribal leaders and their followers have blamed it all on the government for allowing the non tribals to settle there which is contrary to the laid down rules.
" We are...
Tension gripped West Karbi Anglong district for a second consecutive day on Tuesday as clashes between protesters and security forces in Kheroni area left two people dead and over 45 injured, including 38 police personnel.
The deceased have been identified as a differently-abled youth from the Karbi community, who succumbed during police action to disperse agitators, and another individual who died in arson attacks on shops in Kheroni market. Reports indicate the violence involved stone-pelting, use of crude bombs, arrows, and bows by mobs, prompting police to resort to lathi-charge, tear gas, and blank firing.
The unrest stems from long-standing demands by Karbi organisations for the...
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A respected name in the profession, Pisharoty is known for her incisive reporting, editorial leadership and long-standing commitment to press freedom, ethical journalism and the welfare of media professionals. Over the years, she has earned wide credibility for her work on politics, governance and social issues.
The Press Club of...
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The consultation brought together humanitarian practitioners, climate workers, community leaders, civil society organisations, youth groups and women’s collectives to deliberate on...
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