A gang of miscreants led by leaders of the ruling party Awami League’s associate bodies swooped on a mobile court while it was conducting a drive against illegal gas connections in Bhatpara area in Narshingdi yesterday.
Three journalists and two Ansar members were injured during the attack. The local hoodlums also vandalised camaras of journalists as they were taking footage of the drive.
The injured are two members of Ansar, who are yet to be identified, Kawsar Ahmed, cameraman of Shomoy Television, and Lakshman Barman, cameraman of Channel 24 and Aiub Khan Sarkar, reporter of Channel 9.
According to district administration, Titas gas office conducted a drive in Bhatpara area in the afternoon to sever illegal gas connections.
Executive Magistrate M Jahirul Hayat, who led the drive, said: “A gang of miscreants led by Md Sajib Hossain, general secretary of Bangabandhu Jubo Parishad and Monir Molla, general secretary of the Bangladesh Chhatra League, Ghorasahal municipality unit suddenly swooped on Ansar members and journalists.
Kamal Molla, a witness, said: “The attackers firstly dragged two Ansar members off to a nearby pond and beat up them indiscriminately and tried to snatch their arms.”
They also beat Kawsar Ahmed with an iron rods when he was taking footage of the beating.
“As other journalists tried to save Kawsar Ahmed, they also beat up them,” he added. Rather saving journalists, the executive magistrate fled the scene without taking action against the attackers, said journalists.
Narshingdi Police Super Sheikh Rafiqul Islam said: “We have heard about the incident. Police have were sent to the spot and they managed to bring the situation under control.
Of the injured, Kawsar Ahmed was taken to the National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation in critical state while four others were taking treatment at Narsingdi Sadar Hospital.
Md Kamal Hossain, additional deputy commissioner (revenue), told the Dhaka Tribune that a three-member probe committee had been formed to investigate the matter.
