Mumbai: City journalists on Thursday took out a
"silent march" from Mumbai Press Club to the Mantralaya here
to protest against the Government Railway Police (GRP)
for arresting a journalist under Official Secrets Act, and to
seek his immediate release.
The scribe, Tarakant Dwivedi alias Akela, was arrested
for his article in Mumbai Mirror on how the weapons, purchased
after the 26/11 terror attacks, were rotting in the armoury
due to water leakage in monsoon.
The journalist was booked for trespass and non-bailable
offences under the Official Secrets Act, yesterday. Currently
he is in the police custody.
This is for the first time that a city journalist has
been arrested under Official Secrets Act.
The journalists from print and electronic media, who met
at Press Club this afternoon, demanded immediate suspension
of ACP Anil Mahabole of Mumbai Police who reportedly went to
Railway Police lock-up to tell him that `he wanted to see
Akela in jail`, although he (Mahabole) had no authority to go
there.
The journalists then walked to Mantralaya to meet Home
Minister R R Patil. As the minister was not available, they
spoke to him over phone and were assured that he would inquire
into the matter and by evening take a decision on suspending
the concerned policeman.
Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh and Press Club demanded
immediate suspension of concerned police officers for
arresting Akela. They also demanded dropping of charges
against him under the Official Secrets Act, besides an inquiry
by an independent body.
PTI
