Bail for two journalists, who detained for "spreading communal disharmony," said: Tripura Minister

The Editors Guild of India asks for "restoration of their freedom to travel".

 Agartala: The two women journalists got bailed after being detained in Assam on Sunday after a case was filed against them by the Tripura police for "spreading communal disharmony" for the report of vandalising a mosque.

Tripura's Information Minister Susanta Chowdhury, allegedly said that those journalists detained over their posts on communal incidents in Tripura were "instigating the people against the government".

According to the minister, "If they simply wanted to report from the ground, present news we don't have a problem, but why were they putting up provocative post?... We all saw what happened in Amravati, the minority community was provoked to come out on the street, who did it? These types of journalists did it."

The two journalists are Samriddhi Sakunia and Swarna Jha who worked for a news organisation- HW News Network in Tripura, it all started when Ms Samriddhi tweet. She recently visited a half-burnt prayer hall at a private house where claims were made of a Quran being burnt.

According to the police statement, they found no religious document was burnt and the journalists were asked to come to Agartala for questioning. The two of them were arrested when they were found to leave the state. Also, the viral video was seen to be doctored by them.

"They were instigating people, they were provoking against the ruling party, they are trying to unite a particular religion, does it befit a journalist?" said a Govt. official.

The Editors Guild of India asks for "restoration of their freedom to travel".

In an official statement, the HW News Network said the arrest took place "despite the police allowing them to leave the hotel and giving them a week to record a statement... This is sheer harassment and targeting of the press on part of Tripura police".