Tripura newspapers keep editorial spaces blank to protest against journalist's murder

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AGARTALA: Majority of newspapers in Tripura on Thursday left the space for editorials blank in protest against the killing of journalist Sudip Datta Bhowmik.

"As far as institutional protest is concerned, we have left our editorials page blank for today's edition of our newspaper. Murder of two journalists within 2 months is a matter of serious concern," said editor of Tripura Times Manas Paul.

Majority of the newspapers in Tripura leave the space for editorials blank in protest against killing of journalist Sudip Datta Bhowmik. pic.twitter.com/K1Y8PpGUsg — ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2017

On Tuesday, 48-year-old Sudip Datta Bhowmik was shot dead around 2 pm inside the headquarters of the 2nd battalion of TSR at RK Nagar allegedly by a constable of the Tripura State Rifles (TSR) following an altercation. He was taken to G B Hospital in Agartala where the doctors declared him brought dead.

Later in the day, Tapan Debbarma, a commandant of second Tripura State Rifles, was arrested in connection with the murder of Bhowmik.

The editor of the 'Syandan Patrika', Subal Dey alleged that Bhaumik was killed by Debbarma as he had written a series of articles on corrupt practices of the officer.

"It was Debbarma who called Bhaumik to the battalion headquarters...Bhaumik's mobile phone is missing, but all other belongings such as money bag and pen were recovered," Dey claimed. He had called for the immediate arrest and suspension of the commandant.

To protest the killing, both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress called a 12-hour and 24-hour statewide shutdown on Thursday respectively.

Tripura: BJP and Congress have called for a bandh Tripura to protest killing of journalist Sudip Datta Bhowmik; Many newspapers have left space for editorials blank, to voice protest. pic.twitter.com/0Scu6VnE9h — ANI (@ANI) November 23, 2017

TSR Second Battalion Rifleman Nandu Kumar Reang was also arrested in the same day in connection with the murder. According to police, Reang opened fire from his AK-47 assault rifle, killing Bhowmik on the spot. Reang is the bodyguard of Debbarma.

Meanwhile, Tripura Governor Tathagata Roy will submit a report to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the murder.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiran Rijiju has also strongly condemned the killing of the journalist. Tripura Chief Minister Manik Sarkar, condemning the killing, has asked the Director General of Police to probe the incident.

Bhowmik, who was a reporter with "Syandan Patrika" and television channel "Vanguard", is survived by his wife, a government teacher, and two children.

This is the second killing of a mediaperson in Tripura in two months. Earlier on September 20, television journalist Santanu Bhowmik was killed allegedly by some activists of a party in Mandai.