Guwahati molestation case: Scribe who filmed act quits

, Jul 16: The Guwahati molestation case involving the Class 11 student who was brutally assaulted by a rowdy mob of more than 50 people had stunned the nation. After the initial hue and cry, rumours started doing the rounds that the whole incident was staged and choreographed by a private news channel.

The expose made by Team Anna member and RTI activist Akhil Gogoi had stunned all, with the reporter in the eye of the controversy, Gaurav Jyoti Neog tendering his resignation following the accusations. He is alleged to have instigated the mob to molest the teenage girl. [UPDATE: Guwahati molestation case: Accused journo to be grilled soon]

In his resignation letter, Neog had called the accusations against him "malicious and wild". He added, "There are allegations levelled against me that I orchestrated the molestation on the girl on GS Road on the night on Jul 9. I strongly deny and refute the allegations as malicious and wild."

Explaining his actions on that day, Neog said that he had only carried out his professional duties as a responsible journalist. He stated that he had asked for a camera unit in order to film the "nightmarish incident to fulfill the social responsibility of identifying the molesters and get them punished."

Neog said that he had himself asked the management to relieve him of his duties till his name is cleared and that it was needed to enable a free and fair trial. He added, "I will cooperate with the investigation process ... I would like to come back and join the organisation again with my head held high."

The reporter has also resigned from the primary membership of Electronic Media Forum Assam. Backing the reporter, the channel's Executive Director Nitumoni Saikia said that the channel was convinced of Neog's innocence and confident that he was not involved in the instigation that led to the molestation. He said, "We are not trying to protect or shield anyone but we remain committed in our campaign to get the molesters arrested."

The channel had faced a lot of flak for deciding to air the shocking visuals that exposed the faces of the perpetrators of the ugly crime. On the other hand, the visuals also helped the police identify the molesters and bring them to justice.

OneIndia News