HC orders probe into attack on ETV journo
The High Court today ordered an investigation into an alleged police assault on Ekushey Television journalist Akhil Podder in Kushtia last month.
The bench of Justice Moyeenul Islam Chowdhury and Justice Md Ashraful Kamal directed the home secretary to form a two-member committee to probe the allegation and submit a report by four weeks.
The bench also issued a rule seeking explanation as to why it should not declare illegal a police action declining to accept a First Investigation Report (FIR) over the allegation.
The judges also sought account of why those police members responsible for the attack on Akhil Podder should not be brought to book.
The government was given four weeks to respond to the rule.
The officer-in-charge (OC) of the concerned Kumarkhali Police Station in Kushtia was told to register the FIR by 24 hours and submit a report in this regard on September 17.
On August 26, Ekushey Television special correspondent Podder was allegedly beaten up in Kumarkhali upazila of Kushtia.
According to police, Podder was intercepted on the Kushtia-Rajbari highway and was asked to produce his driving license and legal documents for his motorbike.
Following an altercation on the spot, Podder was taken to Kumarkhali Police Station where the victim claimed he was assaulted by the law enforcers.
The police authorities reportedly sought apology for the incident and assured that actions would be taken against those responsible for the “unwanted incident.”
One Mujibul Sheikh filed a FIR on behalf of Podder at the Kumarkhali Police Station, which was not accepted by police.
Today Podder filed a writ petition with the High Court.
Advocate Manzill Murshid appeared for the petitioner while Deputy Attorney General Motahar Hossain Saju represented the government during the hearing.
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