Names of four main accused dropped from charge sheet

In the case filed over attacking two journalists by alleged Awami League men in Sylhet court area in January, police have submitted a charge sheet dropping the names of four prime accused, much to the surprise of the complainant.

On Tuesday, Sub-inspector Hadiul Islam of Kotwali Police Station, also investigation officer (IO) of the case, submitted the charge sheet to Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate's Court.

But names of four prime accused were dropped from the case, according to the charge sheet. The Daily Star has obtained a copy of it. 

Nirananda Paul, video journalist of Jamuna TV, and Mamun Hasan, photo journalist of the daily Jugantor, were injured in an attack allegedly by followers of Liaquat Ali, general secretary of Jaintiapur upazila Awami League, in Sylhet court area on January 25.

Liaquat was denied bail in a murder case at a Sylhet court that day. When the journalists were recording video footages and taking photos of Liaquat and 29 others while they were being taken to jail, around 50 followers of Liaquat attacked them, and also broke their cameras, said witnesses.

Following that, the next day, a case was filed accusing Liaquat Ali, Shamim Ahmed, Foyej Ahmed Babar, Jewel Arman, Hossain Ahmed, Najrul and 15 other unnamed persons.

On February 2, the court granted two-day remand for Liaquat Ali, the prime accused of the case.

Regarding the charge sheet, the complainant, Nirananda Paul, said the IO pressed the charge sheet without talking to him.

Contacted, the IO brushed aside the allegation. He said he had spoken to the complainant.  

The names of Liaquat, Foyej, Shamim and Hossain were dropped as their involvement was not found during investigation, the IO added.

Gousul Hossain, officer-in-charge of Kotwali Police Station, also said the IO pressed the charge sheet after taking Nirananda's consent.

However, Bappa Gosh Chowdhury, former vice-president of Sylhet Press Club, said the police are cooking up a story in their defence as they dropped the names of the accused.

Asked, Ikramul Kabir, president of Sylhet Press Club, said he knows nothing regarding the charge sheet.

Al-Azad, president of the Electronic Media Journalists Association (IMJA) in Sylhet, said, “As far as we know, the police spoke to Nirananda, but they did not take his signature as a proof of his consent." But the IO said it was not necessary.