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A 26-year-old journalist working for a Bengali newspaper in Assam’s Silchar was allegedly assaulted by a group of men, who also vandalised the office of the media house, police said on Friday.

Raju Das, who works as a reporter and anchor for Silchar-based newspaper-cum-digital platform Barak Bani, was allegedly assaulted by a group of men.Police officers said the attack took place in the Second Link Road area of Silchar town at around 7:30 pm on Thursday, following which the victim lodged a First Information Report (FIR) at Rangirkhari Police Station.

Raju Das, who works as a reporter and anchor for Silchar-based newspaper-cum-digital platform Barak Bani, alleged that the accused first called him to ask where he was and later entered the office to assault him.

“After I told them that I was working at the office, they came there and entered the room saying they wanted to discuss something. But suddenly one of them started punching me while wearing brass knuckles. I started bleeding and almost fell unconscious before my colleagues intervened and saved me,” he told HT on Friday.

The owner of the newspaper, Nikhil Das, alleged that Raju was receiving threats for covering news related to gambling and certain other illegal activities. “When I intervened during the assault, I asked the attackers why they were angry, but they only warned me to stay away,” he said.

Police said they are interrogating the detained youth and that the exact motive behind the attack is yet to be known.

Raju’s family members said he sustained serious head injuries and is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Silchar.

“Some of the injuries are deep and, after the CT scan, doctors advised immediate admission,” family members said, adding that he is responding well to treatment.

Police said they would collect the medical reports and record Raju’s statement once doctors permit them to do so.