Police have arrested one person in connection with mob assault on senior journalist Liaqat Ali Badal in Rangpur.
The case was filed by Badal, who claims he was abducted by a mob from the Rangpur City Corporation office, beaten, and coerced to apologise to the chief executive officer of an organisation for publishing a news report.
He made the allegations against 14 individuals, including the CEO Umme Fatema, trade license branch head Mizanur Rahman Mizu, and former councillor Liton Parvez.
According to officer-in-charge Ataur Rahman of Rangpur Metropolitan Kotwali Police Station, the incident began on Sunday when a group of youths, identifying themselves as “July Warriors,” dragged Badal from Kachari Bazar into the city corporation premises and beat him severely. He was then held near the CEO’s chamber to force an apology, before other journalists intervened and secured his release.
He added that journalists, while leaving after staging a protest in front of the new city corporation building, were again intercepted and harassed by city corporation officials and staff.
The arrested individual is Raton Mia (32), a resident of Purbo Abhiram Doctor Para. He was arrested at 10pm Monday in the Hajipara area near Shapla Chattar in Rangpur.
The assault stemmed from Badal’s report published on 17 September in Dainik Sangbad, titled ‘Auto License Business Worth Tk 5 Crore in the Name of July Warriors in Rangpur’. After the story was released, he alleges he was taken away and subjected to violence.
