Golam Rahman Zilu filed the case with Sylhet Kotwali Police Station against MA Rahim, a Sylhet-based staff reporter of the daily Manabzamin, Aminul Islam Sardar, Ali Hossain and Sanjay Dev.

In his petition, the complainant alleged that the accused equipped with arms vandalised his business establishment 'Zaibunnesa Traders' at Star Plaza market in the city's Subidbazar area and also assaulted him on January 8, 2006.

Zilu also said that when he was going to the police station to file a case, the accused stopped him and snatched a mobile phone set worth Tk 40,000 from him.

The group then took him to Kalibari area and threatened him with death, he said, adding that the group also demanded Tk 50,000 and later freed him when he agreed to pay.

The Officer in charge of Kotwali Police Station said that the police are investigating the allegations. A regular case may be recorded after preliminary investigation, he said on Thursday.