Withdrawal of case against two newsmen demanded

Journalists formed a human chain in front of Dumki Press Club in the upazila headquarters under the district about 11:00am yesterday demanding withdrawal of a case against two local journalists.

On May 16, the case was filed against Nipun Chandra Das, Dashmina upazila correspondent of the Asian Age, and Sanjoy Banerjee, upazila correspondent of the Dainik Janata, after they presented news over torture on a Hindu woman by a local gang who attempted to grab her land.

Sikder Golam Mostafa, secretary of Dashmina upazila unit of Awami League, filed the case with Dashmina Upazila Judicial Magistrate's Court under Section 57 of Information Communication Technology Act.

"After getting order from the court we started investigation into the case and later submitted a prayer to the court for more time for proper investigation. The court on Tuesday asked me to take lawful step after treating the case as an FIR," said Md Monirul Islam, OC of Dashmina Police Station.

Nipun Chandra Das, also former secretary for Dashmina Press Club, said, "We have become victim as we presented news over a local gang's torture on Kanonbala, a Hindu widow of Purbo lipur village under the upazila, in an attempt to grab her land on May 8."

The gang led by a local influential man physically tortured Kanonbala after tying her hands and legs with rope. Informed, police rushed to the spot and rescued the victim. Her relatives took her to Patuakahli General Hospital.

On May 11, the victim's son Asim Saha filed a case accusing 14 people with Dashmina Upazila Magistrate's Court and main accused Abul Hossain is now in jail in that case.

Md Jasim Uddin, president of Dashmina Press Club, Mojibur Rahman, its secretary, addressed, among others, during the half an hour-long human chain programme yesterday.