Guwahati, Aug. 23 -- The Press Club of India (PCI) on Friday urged Assam Police to withdraw an FIR filed against journalist Abhisar Sharma, calling the action "an attack on press freedom."

The FIR alleges that Sharma made statements with "mala fide intent to disrepute elected governments," incited communal tensions, and threatened national integrity.

The PCI noted that the FIR invokes Sections 152 (sedition), 196 (promoting enmity and disharmony), and 197 (imputations against national integration) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

It highlighted a recent Supreme Court order granting interim protection from arrest to The Wire's Founding Editor Siddharth Varadarajan and Consulting Editor Karan Thapar in a similar case filed by Assam Police...