Guwahati, July 26 -- Police and the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) launched a search operation on Saturday after a local television journalist allegedly jumped into the Burhidihing river from the newly constructed bridge in Margherita, Tinsukia district.

According to police, Ujjal Choudhury, the Margherita correspondent of an electronic news channel, was travelling from Ledo to Margherita on a scooter with his colleague, Nitul Bharali, when the incident occurred.

Bharali said Choudhury asked him to stop the scooter after they reached the new Burhidihing bridge.

"I gave him a ride on my scooter as he wanted to come to Margherita with me. He said he wanted to meet someone. When we reached the bridge, he asked me to stop. The moment...