Agartala Press Club condemns threats by Sailesh Kumar Yadav against TripuraInfo Editor

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, May 8, 2025

In a strongly worded press release, Agartala Press Club Secretary Shri Ramakanta Dey has denounced the unethical conduct of Agartala Smart City CEO Shri Shailesh Yadav (IAS), who, on Wednesday at around 9:00 AM made a harassing call to TripuraInfo.com Editor Shri Jayanta Debnath. During the call, Shri Yadav demanded to know the source of the news published by TripuraInfo regarding allegations of mistreatment by him at two marriage halls in Agartala under the guise of COVID-19 enforcement—allegations now part of a Supreme Court petition.

Shri Debnath informed Shri Yadav that he was unable to disclose his confidential news sources, and offered to correct any factual error in the reporting. Undeterred, Shri Yadav issued an ultimatum that if the source was not revealed by 10:30 AM, he would take action against Shri Debnath “that TripuraInfo.com would never forget.” The IAS officer’s abuse escalated to issuing obscene language and a chilling threat to shoot and kill both Shri Debnath and his son. His hyper-tensive and abusive remark resulted from his unfounded suspicion that it was the chief secretary of the state and DM (west) who had leaked the news about the supreme court case to Tripurainfo.com as they alone were aware of the matter. Shailesh actually insisted on the matter being confirmed by the Tripurainfo.com Editor in a foul manner but naturally in accordance with journalistic ethic the Editor refused to disclose his source.

Distressed by this conduct, Shri Debnath filed an FIR yesterday at the Agartala NCC Police Station against Shri Yadav for intimidation and criminal threats. In his release, Shri Ramakanta Dey voiced the press club’s deep concern over the behaviour of a senior civil servant toward a press colleague, describing the threats as “totally unacceptable” and “a severe violation of journalistic freedom.” The press club has called upon the state administration to launch a transparent investigation and to ensure that appropriate administrative and legal measures are taken without delay to protect the safety and rights of journalists in Tripura.

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