Santu Pan, 27, a journalist with a Bengali television news channel, was arrested on Monday night for allegedly outraging the modesty of a woman in strife-torn Sandeshkhali, where he was on an assignment.

Pan was arrested from a boat near Dhamakhali in North 24-Parganas while he was reporting live for his channel.

A video released by the channel he works for shows Pan being taken away by a large police contingent, allegedly without notice, shoving him into an e-rickshaw and driving away.

Pan, a resident of Goghat in Hooghly, was heard claiming he was arrested for “exposing the truth”.

Police said he was arrested based on a specific complaint lodged by a Sandeshkhali homemaker.

“In her complaint, the woman alleged that the journalist had barged into her home when she was not properly dressed and had started taking videos. Taking cognisance of the complaint, we began a probe and arrested him,” said a police official.

Besides being charged with outraging the woman's modesty, Pan has also been charged with trespassing, using criminal force on the woman, assaulting her, capturing her image while she was engaging in a private act in her home and criminal intimidation.

Pan was produced in the ACJM’s court in Basirhat and remanded in police custody for three days.

“The police sought a 10-day police remand, but the ACJM granted three days,” said a government counsel.

Pan reported from Sandeshkhali, a day after villagers hit the roads demanding the arrest of absconding Trinamul strongman Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides Uttam Sardar and Shibaprasad Hazra.

The channel he works for claimed the allegations against Pan are baseless and he was arrested for “uncovering the truth”.

“We will fight the vindictive arrest legally, and ensure his release through the court of law,” said a senior journalist of the channel.

The Editors Guild of India expressed its concern over the journalist's arrest.

The Guild said: “The police should certainly investigate if allegations have been levelled against the journalist. But to take him away while he is reporting is indeed a cause for concern.”

“The Editors Guild calls on the administration in West Bengal to conduct a speedy inquiry and ensure that no injustice is done to Mr Pan. The government must also do everything it can to protect freedom of the press,” it added.

On Monday night, the Kolkata Press Club condemned his arrest and demanded his immediate release.

“The Press Club is very concerned about the arrest and demands his release. The allegations against him are subject to investigation. But we protest his arrest while he was on duty,” said the Club.

The saffron camp, which the channel Pan works for is allegedly tilted towards, condemned his arrest widely on social and mainstream media.

BJP MLA and leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari called the arrest an act of tyranny by the Mamata Banerjee government, alleging it wanted to threaten journalists with incarceration.

CPM leader Sujan Chakraborty called the arrest a “horrible and clear threat” to the freedom of press.

News industry body Digipub condemned the arrest and called for introspection.

Its statement said: “While rule of law and fair investigation is expected from agencies, the circumstances of this arrest appear highly problematic and vindictive.

“Such arbitrary arrests of journalists on grounds of unverified allegations is deeply concerning.... Violence towards journalists threatens their right to freedom of expression and political commentary and arms of the state seem to be indulging in such undemocratic acts frequently. This must stop.

"It is also an important time for media organisations to reflect that cheerleading, endorsing and egging on assaults and harassment of journalists one does not agree with, serves no news professional or news organisation in the short or long run…. DIGIPUB urges the Bengal police to release the reporter Mr. Pan at once and conduct their inquiry in a fair manner and not intimidate and stop journalists from doing their job.”