Journalists on Friday staged a protest near the Greater Dibrugarh Press club condemning BJP leader Pijush Hazarika for threatening a journalist of a local media group over the phone.

During the protests, journalists could be heard shouting slogans against Hazarika.

Hazarika can be heard threatening two journalists with dire consequences in an audio clip that has gone viral.

Hazarika allegedly threatened to “drag the two journalists out of their homes” for reporting a new involving his wife and Assamese actress Aimee Baruah.

Also read: Gauhati Press Club slams Assam minister Pijush Hazarika for threatening TV journalist

The BJP leader is contesting the Assam Assembly elections from the Jagiroad constituency that went to polls during the second phase on Thursday.

One of the journalists who had been threatened also filed an FIR against the minister of state for health and family welfare at the Jagiroad police station in Morigaon district.

“We would not tolerate such activity by a BJP minister. He should apologist for his behavior,” said Probir Chakravortty, a senior journalist of Dibrugarh

“Incidents like threatening and assaulting journalists have become a routine affair these days. If the journalist had done something wrong to tarnish the image of Hazarika’s wife, then he should have taken the help of law,” said he said.

Avik Chakraborty is Northeast Now Correspondent in Dibrugarh. He can be reached at: [email protected]