As the protesters continue to demand Justice for the RG Kar Hospital rape and murder victim, the Mamata Banerjee government has been facing mounting pressure over the allegations that it mishandled the case, indulged in cover-up, and has been trying to suppress the public movement. Now, a senior journalist, Abhijit Majumder has accused the West Bengal government of stifling freedom of speech and Press freedom. Majumder who yesterday revealed that Airtel has blocked his number on the orders of West Bengal cyber Police, lashed out at CM Banerjee. He dubbed the orders as “unlawful” and “dictatorial”.
Journalist questions Airtel-Bengal Govt ties after his number was blocked over the RG Kar case. @abhijitmajumder, the affected columnist, calls it "unconstitutional, unlawful, and dictatorial." Demands proof and resolution#PMModi #RGKardoctor #KolkataDeathCase | @Arunima24 pic.twitter.com/L6dORkU9UY
— News18 (@CNNnews18) August 31, 2024
On Friday (30th August), the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Earshot, Abhijit Majumder stated that the telecom operator Airtel had blocked his phone number in line with the orders of West Bengal cyber Police.
Taking to X, he wrote, “My phone has been blocked. Called Airtel. It has been blocked by apparently cyber police, West Bengal. How is this even legal?”
My phone has been blocked.
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) August 30, 2024
Called Airtel.
It has been blocked by apparently cyber police, West Bengal.
How is this even legal?
In another post, he attached an audio clip of his interaction with an Airtel executive, who explained that his number was suspended on the directions of the West Bengal cyber police on the allegations of “fraud activity.” The senior journalist has demanded that the administration should provide evidence for these allegations.
In his post, Majumder linked the Police action with his reporting on the trainee doctor’s rape and murder case.
So, the police of #MamataBanerjee have blocked my phone number.
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) August 30, 2024
I was talking too much about #KolkataDoctorDeath.
They think they will silence me 🙂
Called Airtel, this is what they said 👇🏼 pic.twitter.com/8juvpZb75h
Sharing the audio clip, he wrote, “So, the police of #MamataBanerjee have blocked my phone number. I was talking too much about #KolkataDoctorDeath. They think they will silence me…Called Airtel, this is what they said.”
The Airtel call centre agent told him that his phone has been blocked on the orders of the cyber cell division of West Bengal police, and he can’t make any outgoing calls. The journalist was told that the number was blocked due to fraudulent activities. When he asked why the West Bengal police order was implemented all over India, as the state police jurisdiction should be limited to the state only. However, the agent could not explain the reason.
The agent also could not answer if Artel blocks numbers only on the instructions of police without any investigation. Understanding that the call centre agent would not be able to address the issue as he was narrating what was being shown in the system, Majumder didn’t press further.
Dear @JM_Scindia-ji, can @airtelindia unilaterally block someone’s phone just on the instruction of West Bengal police? https://t.co/fn827EzI9m
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) August 31, 2024
On Saturday, he spoke with News18 regarding the suspension of his mobile phone services on the orders of the West Bengal Cyber Police. He stressed that he had not received any mail, message, or a call from the West Bengal Police informing him about the same.
Majumder told CNN-News18, “I haven’t received any communique from the West Bengal Police. The telecom ministry has informed me that they are investigating the matter. My posts are public.”
Slamming CM Mamata Banerjee, Majumder described the action as “unlawful” and a form of “dictatorship”.
He said, “This action is unlawful, this is dictatorship. They should provide evidence for these allegations. My outgoing and incoming calls were barred.”
The journalist also expressed shock that a state Police could bar a user’s mobile phone services throughout the country and tagged Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in another post over this issue. He raised questions on the connection between Airtel and the West Bengal government stating, “I thought number blocking could only be authorised by the central government.”
According to News18, top Airtel sources told them that this happened “automatically” since the procedure was followed after Kolkata Police raised a complaint with the Central government portal. It was a routine process, News18 reportage added.
Meanwhile, Majumder told OpIndia that he is planning to approach the court against this order of the West Bengal Police and challenge it on Monday.
