Journalist Santu Pan, associated with Republic TV, who was arrested by West Bengal Police in Sandeshkhali on February 19 has been granted bail by the Court in Kolkata.
Republic Bangla journalist Santu Pan was arrested by the West Bengal police on Monday, February 19, for allegedly entering a house where a lady was not properly dressed. The claim was made by the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). Santu Pan was taken into custody from Sandeshkhali when he was reporting live on TV. The cops produced him in a court on Tuesday, February 20, which sent him to police custody for three days in North 24 Parganas district.
"I'm being arrested by the police for conducting interviews with the mothers of Sandeshkhali," stated Pan as he was forcefully taken away by the police at the Sandeshkhali ferry terminal. In the video of the incident, several heavily armed police officers were seen pushing and handling the journalist roughly before taking him away forcibly.
Republic TV's statement
Reacting to Pan's arrest, Republic TV Editor-in-Chief Arnab Goswami said," My reporter was not allowed to take public transport, was made to stand for three to four hours in one place, after which he was physically dragged without being served any notice. Even a murderer is given a chance to prove his innocence."
The channel in a statement said that cops unlawfully detained a Republic Bangla reporter for uncovering "truth" in the Sandeshkhali case.
The Calcutta High Court on Thursday granted bail to a television journalist, who was arrested by the West Bengal Police in the restive Sandeshkhali area. The court also ordered a stay on further proceedings in the case registered against Santu Pan at Sandeshkhali police station. Justice Kausik Chanda granted bail to the journalist, who works for Republic Bangla, on a petition moved by him.
