Detectives have arrested the prime suspect in a case filed over the assault on several journalists in Sreemontopur, Cumilla.
Shamsul Alam Shah, officer‑in‑charge of the Cumilla Detective Branch of Police, said Shaon, a local youth, was arrested early Thursday from Vijaypur in Sadar South while attempting to flee. He was later handed over to Sadar South Police Station.
Shaon fled after attacking journalists on Wednesday afternoon. The arrest was made following the filing of the case, police said.
The assault occurred around 3pm Wednesday in the Mistripukur Par area of Uttar Rampur. The victims included Jamuna Television Staff Reporter and Cumilla Press Club Executive Committee Member Rafiqul Islam Chowdhury Khokon; Independent Television Cumilla Correspondent and Cumilla Television Journalist Forum Executive Member Tanveer Dipu; and Star News Cumilla Bureau Reporter Abdullah Al Maruf, also the Forum’s Information Technology and Hospitality Secretary.
Tanveer Dipu said, “On Wednesday afternoon we were heading towards Lalmai to collect news. At Poduar Bazar intersection we faced severe traffic congestion. To reach the Cumilla–Noakhali highway, we took the road in front of the Uttar Rampur electricity office. At that time, several vehicles were stuck behind an iron barricade erected by local residents, causing heavy gridlock.
I moved forward to find out the reason and began lifting the barricade so vehicles could pass one by one. Meanwhile, a local youth named Shaon confronted me over why I was removing the barricade and started arguing. At one point he pushed me. My colleague Maruf then stepped in and saved me.”
