Gauhati High Court orders dismissal of complaint against the journalist

Case regarding the article ‘Infiltration and Islamic Fundamentalism are dangerous for Assam’

Guwahati (Assam) – Journalist Kongkon Borthakur had written an article on infiltration in Assam, linking it with Islamic fundamentalism. Following this, a leader of a Muslim organization filed a police complaint against the journalist. However, the Gauhati High Court has dismissed the complaint, clarifying that the article was not communal, it rather represented the true role of journalism.

1.  On 8^thNovember 2016, journalist Kongkon Borthakur wrote an article on infiltration in the newspaper Dainik Janmabhoomi. The article discussed the demographic threat caused by infiltrators from neighbouring countries, the religious fundamentalism, and the terrorist activities carried out by them.

HISTORIC: Gauhati HC rules journalism cannot be criminalised for exposing religious fundamentalism, militancy & demographic threats.

Raising concerns on illegal migrants & border security is duty, not hate.

Landmark verdict shielding reporters from false cases.

PC:… pic.twitter.com/SdCc7dqIUN

— Sanatan Prabhat (@SanatanPrabhat) August 19, 2025

2.  After the article was published, Farid Islam Hazarika, the President of the All-Assam Muslim Students’ Union, filed a complaint against the journalist. The complaint claimed that the article would disturb religious harmony and was an attempt to incite unrest among various communities.

3.  The journalist filed a petition in the High Court challenging the complaint. In the petition, he claimed that the article was based on ground-level research.

4.  The division bench of the Gauhati High Court, led by Justice Pranjal Das, ordered the dismissal of the complaint filed against the journalist. The court stated that the fundamental duty of journalism is to raise pressing issues related to society.