Journalist assaulted, camera vandalised in Lalmonirhat

A journalist was assaulted and his camera was vandalised while taking photos of procession and counter procession of two Awami League factions in Hatibandha upazila town of Lalmonirhat this morning.

Injured Asaduzzaman Sazu, a district correspondent of the Daily Manabkantha, was admitted to Hatibandha Upazila Health Complex. Later, he was referred to Rangpur Medical College Hospital.

The journalist suffered injuries in his legs, hands, back and waist, said Dr Nayeem Hasan, resident medical officer (RMO) of the upazila health complex.

 “I was taking photos of the processions. In the mean time, some four to five youths from the procession attacked me and started beating me by wooden sticks,” said assaulted journalist Asaduzzaman Sazu.

 “They also snatched away my camera and vandalised it,” he said adding that he knows them by face but he does not know their names.

Protesting the attack on journalist, Hatibandha Press Club President Elius Basuniya said police had assured them that culprits would be arrested and taken under law by 24 hours.

“After his treatment, assaulted journalist’s family will lodge a case,” he said.

Police were working to identify the attackers and they would arrest them immediately, said Omar Farooque, officer-in-charge of Hatibandha Police Station.

Sazu hailed from Dakhkhin Gaddimari village in the upazila.