Ransacking Journo’s House by Cops
‘Vandal’appointed IO
Rajshahi journos demand punishment
Different journalists’ organisations in Rajshahi yesterday held protest programmes demanding punishment of the responsible police officials for assaulting journalist Imran Hossain and ransacking his house.
They also demanded withdrawal of the “false” extortion case against Imran Hossain, Tanore upazila correspondent of Rajshahi-based daily Sonar Desh. The journalist still remains hiding to avoid arrest in the case.
Azizur Rahman Sarker, officer-in-charge (OC) of Tanore Police Station, assaulted Imran calling him to the police station on Thursday morning for publishing report in the local daily on corruption of the police.
The OC was closed on Friday following the incidents. The OC sent policemen [to the journalist’s house] and the cops ransacked the house early Friday.
Hours before his removal, Tanore police recorded an extortion case filed by one Delwar Hossain who was mentioned in the Imran’s report published in Sonar Desh on Wednesday as one of the middlemen of the OC in collecting bribes from local people.
Sub-inspector M Solaiman of the police station, who was also mentioned in the report as a “bribe collector” from people, and led the ransacking mission in the name of raid in the house, was appointed investigation officer of the case filed against Imran.
Tanore Press Club in a protest meeting at the club office urged senior police officials to end harassment to journalists. Its acting president Sayeed Saju chaired the meeting. They will form a human chain in the upazila headquarters today.
Rajshahi Metropolitan Press Club in a meeting decided to form a human chain on July 19 protesting torture on the journalist.
Durgapur, Puthia, Godagari and Bagha press clubs also protested the assault on the journalist and his family members and demanded withdrawal of the case against Imran.
-With The Daily Star input
