Hyderabad, Jan. 3 -- At least two journalists in Assam have returned mobile phones that were distributed as New Year gifts by the state government.

More than 2,200 journalists registered with the state's Directorate of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) are slated to receive the mobile phones.

Distribution began at CM's press conference

The distribution began on Thursday during chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's press conference in Guwahati and will continue through the district commissioners, with all gifts expected to be handed out by Magh Bihu on January 14.

According to a report by Scroll, all DIPR cardholders are to receive the Samsung Galaxy F17 smartphones, priced between Rs 12,600 and Rs 16,000 online.

An official told...