5 jail guards suspended for assaulting journo

Five guards of Barishal Central Jail were suspended yesterday for beating a journalist inside the jail.

The suspended guards are Ujjal Mia, Abu Bakor Siddique Khokon, Sayeed, Abul Khair and Kawsar, said Prashanta Kumar Banik, superintendent of the jail.

The incident took place in the afternoon when Shamim Ahmed, a photojournalist of Bangla daily Jugantor, on information that government-sanctioned food grains belonging to the jail were being taken away from the jail for selling at local markets, went to the area.

Shamim, after seeing two rickshaw-vans loaded with 11 sacks of wheat in front of the jail gate on Sadar Road, started taking pictures.

“Suddenly, five to six persons swooped on me. They dragged me inside the jail and started hitting me,” Shamim told The Daily Star. He said he received primary treatment at Barishal General Hospital.

When the news spread, local journalists rushed to the spot and rescued him, he added.

The jail superintendent said, “We have investigated the matter and found involvement of our men in the beating. So, we suspended them.” Filing of a case is underway, he added.

When asked about the wheat sacks, he said those were being taken from the guards' mess for selling. He did not elaborate any further.

Meanwhile, Barishal Reporters' Unity and Sangbadik Union condemned the incident and demanded punishment for those involved.