After being named in an FIR at the Fatikroy police station, in #Tripura on 14 November, HW News Network #journalists Sammriddhi Sakunia and Swarna Jha were on Monday arrested by the Tripura Police.

Sakunia and Jha were in Tripura covering the recent incident of communal violence in the state.

The FIR against them was reportedly registered on Sunday on a complaint filed by a Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) supporter.

According to media reports, the journalists had been accused of ‘promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion’ and ‘being a part of criminal conspiracy.’

The other complaint against the journalists was registered at the Kakraban police station in Gomati on Sunday for “creating hatred between religious groups by fabrication, concealing documents,” a statement issued by the Tripura director general of police said.

Their employer has since approached the court and bail was granted on Monday evening.

Presenting his arguments for the bail of the journalists, advocate Pijush Biswas asserted there was no evidence that they spread communal hatred.

The bail to the two journalists has been granted on bail bond of Rs 75,000 each. The court has asked them to appear before Kakraban Police Station where the case was registered. After questioning, they would be released, said Mr. Biswas who appeared before the court.

Meanwhile, fellow journalists have been sharing messages of support for the two journalists.

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