Two arrested for journalist assault incident in Kuakata

Two arrested for journalist assailt in Kalapara

Patuakhali: Mohipur Police have arrested two accused in a case filed in Kuakata, Patuakhali, in connection with the hammering of Dainik Desh Rupantor's Kuakata correspondent KM Bachchu.

They were arrested in a raid in the Kuakata area on Monday night. The arrested are Shahid Sikder (alias Pocha Shahid), deputy general secretary of the Municipal Jubo Dal, and Nasir Hawlader, vice-president of Ward No. 8 Sramik Dal. They were handed over to the Kalapara Senior Judicial Magistrate Court on Tuesday (July 28).

Earlier, on July 24, at around 11 pm, a terrorist attack took place on journalist KM Bachchu in the area adjacent to Hotel Saikat on Kuakata Marine Drive Road. He suffered serious injuries to his head and both legs in the attack. Locals rescued him and first admitted him to the 20-bed hospital in Kuakata. Later, he was sent to the Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital in Barisal for better treatment. After being treated there for three days, he was transferred to Dhaka for further advanced treatment.

It is learned that on February 24 of this year, journalist KM Bachchu published news against a young man named Bayezid Sikder on charges of forcibly taking a young woman to a hotel room in Kuakata and attempting to molest her. His family alleged that the attack took place in the wake of that incident.

The injured journalist's family alleged that Kuakata Municipal Chhatra Dal Ward No. 8 President Bayezid Sikder Rana, Municipal Jubo Dal Deputy General Secretary Shahid Sikder, Ward No. 8 Jubo Dal President Shahid Sikder, Municipal Jubo Dal Religious Affairs Secretary Harun Musalli and four to five others participated in the attack. KM Bachchu was alone at the time of the attack. The accused hit him indiscriminately with a hammer, seriously injuring him.

Kuakata Municipality Jubo Dal President Syed Md. Faruk said, we have informed the central committee about the matter. Currently, since there is no district committee, it is not possible for us to take organizational action.

Kuakata Municipality BNP General Secretary Matiur Rahman Howlader said, there is no place for terrorists in the party. The incident is very sad. Organizational action will be taken against the accused.

Mahipur Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Shamim Howlader said, the police conducted a drive and arrested two accused immediately after the case was filed. Efforts are ongoing to arrest the other accused. - Gofran Palash