Tripura Police Arrest Independent Scribe from Bengal Over 'Defamatory Content'

AGARTALA: Tripura Police has arrested Saikat Talapatra, an independent journalist, in the Sodepur area of West Bengal on charges of spreading false information about several political figures.

A specialized team from Tripura Police's crime branch located and detained him in the early hours today at his hideout in a rented residence in the Muragachha area, near Barasat Road, New Town Kolkata, in the North 24 Parganas district.

Following his detention, he was transported from Kolkata to Agartala by the crime branch team this morning. Subsequently, the accused appeared before a local court, where the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court remanded him to Judicial Custody until October 12.

The arrest follows allegations against Talapatra of involvement in drug trafficking, womanizing, impersonation, and the dissemination of false information. He had been conducting a defamatory campaign targeting various political figures with the apparent aim of tarnishing the reputation of the state, according to police sources.

As per reports, authorities had been closely monitoring Talapatra's activities following numerous complaints regarding the content shared on his Facebook page. Tripura Police's Women's Police Station in Agartala also received a complaint from one Antara Choudhary, who alleged that she was blackmailed and coerced into providing Rs 1 lakh as extortion money.

Additionally, it was reported that Talapatra had been allegedly blackmailing police officials through his page in exchange for the smooth operation of his drug business within the state.

Initial investigations revealed that the page disseminated unverified news and potentially manipulated information, raising concerns about its credibility. Authorities are also investigating his alleged involvement in a drug network within the state.

Saikat Talapatra is further accused of blackmailing women and other individuals in Tripura, as well as engaging in alleged antisocial activities to generate income for personal gain. Police sources suggest that he used blackmail as leverage to benefit personally from women in the state.

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