Two journalists from Andaman and Nicobar Islands were assaulted while they were trying to verify the alleged illegal sale of alcohol on January 30 – a dry day on account of Martyr’s Day, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. 

J Boby, who operates a local media platform News Aap Tak, and Sahadev Dey, who runs a YouTube channel News Republic Andaman, were allegedly assaulted by around six people, including shopkeepers who were allegedly selling alcohol at Rangat, a small town in Andaman and Nicobar.

Three accused, who were identified as Poomurugan, Solaimannan, and Dinesh, were booked under IPC sections 323, 341, and 34 and reportedly admitted to beating up the two journalists.  

Rahul Nair, sub divisional police officer of Rangat, confirmed the incident to Newslaundry, and said prevention action has been initiated against the accused. He said the accused have been sent to five-day judicial custody. 

A video of the two journalists, taken after the incident, shows their faces smeared with blood.

Boby started News Aap Tak in 2020, and is a registered member with the Digipub Foundation. He told Newslaundry that the duo were on the way to a local market when they heard that some shops were selling alcohol. 

They went to the area to verify, and Boby claimed that a shop, which was not a liquor store, was selling alcohol. As they tried to click a picture of the shop, five to six people came out and began assaulting them, he alleged.

“They hit Dey on the face. Then they saw me and started hitting me too,” said Boby. “What’s worse is that this was happening just 200 meters away from a police station. Traditional media does not raise their voice against the administration anymore and my aim is to do that and report on such issues.”

Police said that by the time they reached the spot, there was no alcohol inside the store. But they added that they had received complaints about the said shop earlier too. 

Boby said that he was “not scared” and “will not give up doing his work.”

This report was published with AI assistance.

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