Youth arrested over attack on journalists in Cumilla

District Detective Branch (DB) police have arrested the alleged main accused in an attack on three journalists while they were on their way to collect news in Cumilla.

The accused, identified as Shaon, was arrested from Bijoypur in Sadar Dakshin upazila at around 3am today (27 August).

Confirming the arrest, Cumilla DB Police Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shamsul Alam Shah said, “After the incident, the accused fled the area. Following the filing of a case, DB police launched an operation and arrested him around 3am with the help of information technology.”

He said the accused was later handed over to Sadar Dakshin Police Station.

The attack took place yesterday afternoon in the Mistripukur Par area of Uttar Rampur in Sadar Dakshin upazila.

The victims were Jamuna Television staff reporter Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury Khokon, Independent Television Cumilla correspondent Tanvir Dipu and Star News Cumilla bureau reporter Abdullah Al Maruf.

Tanvir said they were travelling towards Lalmai to collect news when they encountered severe traffic congestion at Paduar Bazar intersection.

They tried to join the Cumilla-Noakhali highway via the road in front of the Uttar Rampur electricity office, where several vehicles were stuck behind an iron barricade erected by locals.

“I went ahead to find out the cause of the traffic jam. I then held up the iron barricade and helped the vehicles pass through one by one,” Tanvir said.

At that point, a local youth named Shaon allegedly approached him and argued over why he was trying to ease the congestion and allow vehicles to pass. Shaon then pushed him, after which his colleague Maruf intervened and took him away.

Tanvir said Shaon later approached them with a rod and attempted to attack them, but local residents took him away.

“We tried repeatedly to stop him. Local people took him away. We were also returning to our destination. Suddenly, he came from behind and struck Maruf on the neck. He fell to the ground unconscious. When I moved towards him, he also attacked me,” he said.

The journalists filed a case with Sadar Dakshin Police Station that afternoon.

Cumilla Press Club General Secretary Imtiaz Ahmed Jitu thanked the district police superintendent and DB police for arresting the alleged attacker.

“If criminals are brought under the law, crime will decline quickly. No one will dare to attack journalists in the future,” he said.