New Delhi, Aug 22 (HS):

The Supreme Court on Friday restrained the Assam Police from taking any coercive action against senior journalist Siddharth Varadarajan, consulting editor of The Wire, and several others in connection with an FIR lodged over their article on ‘Operation Sindoor.’ The interim protection was granted by a bench headed by Justice Surya Kant.

Appearing for the journalists, advocate Nitya Ramakrishnan argued that despite the Supreme Court granting protection in another FIR on August 12, the Assam Police had since issued summons in connection with an earlier case registered in May, raising fears of arrest.

The top court directed that while the journalists must cooperate with the investigation and follow due legal procedures, they cannot be arrested or subjected to coercive measures under the FIR until further orders. The Assam Police, meanwhile, has been asked to file a detailed status report on the matter.

The case will next be heard on September 15.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar