Assam: Reporter arrested on blackmail and extortion charges in Nagaon

Guwahati: A local reporter from Nagaon, Assam was arrested by the police for allegedly blackmailing a Public Work Department (PWD) contractor.

As per sources, the accused was identified as Abdul Jalil Akand.

He claims to be a reporter for a local news portal in Nagaon.

The Nagaon Police arrested him following accusations of blackmail levelled by a contractor named Shahidul Islam.

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Police confirmed the arrest, stating that Akand was apprehended based on a complaint filed by Islam.

The contractor alleged that Akand demanded Rs 50,000 to withhold a news piece regarding some alleged irregularities in a Public Works Department (PWD) contract awarded to Islam.

Police sources said that Akand runs the private web portal by himself and he allegedly threatened to publish news articles highlighting these contract discrepancies unless paid.

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The arrest follows an FIR filed by Shahidul Islam, which resulted in a case registered at the Nagaon police station under Section 384/24 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) about extortion, and Sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 507 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC.

An investigation has been initiated by the police.