The Editors Guild of India on Wednesday condemned the first information report filed against journalist Ajit Anjum for allegedly interfering in the Bihar voter roll revision process and provoking communal discord.

In a statement, the press body noted that the action against Anjum for a “legitimate journalistic exercise seems excessive”. The Editors Guild is “deeply disturbed” by the FIR, it added.

Anjum was booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the 1951 Representation of Peoples Act after he visited a polling booth in Bihar’s Ballia on Saturday.

In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Anjum had claimed that he had found irregularities in the revision of the electoral rolls in the state, with several enumeration forms at the booth not having photos of the applicants and others that had been partially filled or did not have signatures.

Anjum’s YouTube channel has 75 lakh subscribers.

On Wednesday, the Editors Guild of India stated that the administration has several means to counter or clarify a media report. “Criminalising journalism and invoking serious legal provisions against journalists should not be among them,” it added.

The press body said it hoped that journalists, including Anjum, would not “face impediments in discharge of their professional duties”.

“All stakeholders must work to safeguard and promote journalism that is both responsible and truthful,” it added.

On Monday, the Digipub News India Foundation, an association of independent digital news organisations and journalists, stated that the FIR against Anjum was a direct assault on independent journalism.

The “vague allegations” against the journalist were neither credible nor a reason enough for an FIR, the news association added.

“Instead of addressing those legitimate questions, the Election Commission, through this FIR, has attempted to intimidate not just him but all independent journalists who dare to report from the ground,” stated the foundation.

The revision of the electoral rolls in Bihar was announced by the Election Commission on June 24. As part of the exercise, persons whose names were not on the 2003 voter list will need to submit proof of eligibility to vote. This means that 2.9 crore out of the state’s 7.8 crore voters – or about 37% of the electors – have to submit documentary evidence.

The Opposition parties have alleged that the special intensive revision of electoral rolls risked disenfranchising more than 2.5 crore voters, as they may not be able to produce the necessary documents.

Anjum was booked under sections pertaining to criminal trespass, disobeying a lawful order, preventing a public servant from doing their duty and hurting religious sentiments.

The FIR against the journalist was filed based on a complaint by a booth-level officer named Mohammed Ansrarul Haque.

The Begusarai district administration alleged that Anjum, his associates and a cameraperson had made unauthorised videos of the voter roll revision process.

Anjum claimed on Monday that a Muslim block-level officer was “being used as a scapegoat” against him.

“Instead of addressing the questions raised in the video, the administration is resorting to intimidation tactics,” Anjum said on social media. “All I am saying is that I’m right here in Begusarai. If needed, I will fight up to the Supreme Court. I won’t be scared.”