Memo to Minister, DC, SP

'Arrest local MP's cronies who attacked journos in Galachipa'

10 September 2009, 17:00 PM

Our Correspondent, Patuakhali

Patuakhali journalists yesterday submitted memorandum to State Minister for Religious Affairs Shahjahan Mia, also lawmaker from Patuakhali-1, Patuakhali deputy commissioner, and superintendent of police demanding arrest of the culprits who attacked journalists in Galachipa on Wednesday noon. They also demanded removal of the officer-in-charge of Galachipa Police Station for his failure to take action against the perpetrators. Mufti Salahuddin of RTV, Abu Taher Bappa of Bangla vision, Sankar Lal Das, of the Daily Prothom Alo and ABC radio, Khondokar Delwar Jalali of Channel One and Hanjala Shihab of Digonta TV were on their way to different places in Galachipa upazila for professional duty on Wednesday. As the journalists, working as Patuakhali district correspondents of the respective media, reached Haridevpur ferry point at noon, a gang attacked them and tried to snatch cameras, mobile and note books from Salahuddin and Bappa. Three other journalists managed to cross the river and took shelter inside Galachipa Police Station where they had to stay for two hours as the criminals moved around the police station and threatened them. Later a team from Patuakhali Rab camp rescued the journalists. Abu Taher Bappa filed a case with the police station in this regard accusing 20/25 people including Israt Hossain Abbas, president of Galachipa upazila unit of BCL, but police recorded it as a general diary (GD). Patuakhali correspondent of the Prothom Alo Sankar Lal Das also filed a complaint with the police station. The journalists said they faced wrath of the criminals for collecting information on grabbing land and river by local lawmaker. Moslem Bayati, a caretaker of a business house in Galachipa, filed an extortion case against Israt Hossain Lipton, upazila correspondent of the Prothom Alo, and Simoon Rahman Alit, upazila correspondent of the Amar Desh, with local police station on Tuesday night. Following the case, police went to the houses of the two journalists but did not find them. Families of the two journalists said the case was filed in a bid to avenge their reports on grabbing river and land by the local lawmaker. Earlier the Prothom Alo and the Amar Desh published separate news on grabbing rivers and lands in the area. When contacted, Patuakhali Superintendent of Police Shaibal Kanti Chowdhury said, “Lawful action will be taken after proper investigation."