IT News
New Delhi, April 30
The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) expressed shock to the arrest of an Andaman based journalist for posting a tweet asking a question as to why a family was forced to remain in home quarantine following one of its member’s speaking to a COVID-19 patient over telephone.
Zubair Ahmed, editor of ‘Light of Andaman’, a popular weekly newspaper, which is now published online, was summoned to the Bamboo flat police station in South Andaman district on April 27 for questioning over his tweet and then arrested, the police said on April 28. Zubair has been charged under IPC sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant), 269 (negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 505 (1) that relates to publishing or circulating any statement, rumour or report. Sections 51 and 54 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005 were also slapped against him.
He was later released on bail. The IJU condemn the arrest as well as the statement of the Director General of Police, Andaman justifying police action on Zubair Ahmed.
