7 'journalists' arrested on extortion charge in Siddhirganj

Police arrested seven alleged journalists on Friday on charge of extortion from a private clinic in Siddhirganj upazila of Narayanganj. Although claiming to be journalists, they failed to produce any proof to validate their claim, said police. The accused were shown arrested in a case filed under the Speedy Trial Act on Saturday. The seven are Shahadat Hossain Bhuiyan, Md Russell and Abdus Sattar Mollah from Siddhirganj; Nishan from Sonargaon; Nuruzzaman Kawsar from Fatullah; Faruk Ahmed from Demra; and Faruk Hossain from Mijimiji. Another suspect named Md Titu, from Siddhirganj, is on the run. "Police are trying to arrest him," said Sarafat Ullah, OC of Siddirganj police. According to the case, the accused used to harass the staff and management of Family Lab Hospital, located in Siddhirganj's Signboard area, frequently for money. On Wednesday, Shahadat and Titu went to the clinic around 8pm and demanded Tk20,000, but the management refused to give them money. Then on Friday, the whole gang went back to the hospital around 7pm and demanded Tk50,000. When the clinic's managing director, Md Belal Hossain Bhuiyan, refused to give in to their demand once again, they vandalised the clinic and robbed Tk5,000 from the cash register. On receiving information, police rushed to the clinic and arrested seven of them but Titu managed to escape. Belal later filed the case with Siddhirganj police.