Attack on Pabna Journos: Minister's son, 29 others sued
A case has been filed against Ishwardi upazila unit Jubo League President Shirhan Sherif Tomal, also the son of Land Minister Shamsur Rahman Sherif, and 29 other ruling Awami League men for beating up four journalists on Wednesday.
The journalists were gathering information on the preparation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's visit to Ishwardi to inaugurate the construction of Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant yesterday.
One of the victims, Partho Hasan, Pabna district correspondent of DBC News, lodged the case with Ishwardi Police Station yesterday, accusing 30 people, including Tomal and Ishwardi upazila unit Jubo League Secretary Rajib Sardar.
The victims -- Saikat Afroz, Pabna correspondent of Somoy TV, Rizvi Joy, ATN News correspondent of the district, Partho Hasan and ATN News cameraman Milon Hossain -- came under the attack at Natunhat intersection in Ishwardi upazila town.
In the case statement, the complainant said a group of 25 to 30 people carrying sticks and iron rods attacked them on Tomal's instructions. The journalists were capturing footage of damaging banners and posters welcoming the PM to Ishwardi hung by Tomal's rival groups.
Azim Uddin, officer-in-charge of Ishwardi Police Station, said the attackers went into hiding after the incident. Police were trying to detain them, he said.
Protesting the attack, journalists brought out a procession in Pabna town and held a protest rally at Traffic intersection on Wednesday evening. At the rally, they gave a 24-hour ultimatum to the local administration for arresting the attackers.
“If the criminals are not arrested, we will go for a tougher movement," said Akhinur Islam Remon, secretary of Pabna Press Club.
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