Ramgarh Police Station SI accused of harassing journalist while gathering news
Md. Masud Rana, Ramgarh (Khagrachari)
Ramgarh Police Station Sub-Inspector (SI) Md. Ansar Ali has been accused of harassing a journalist while collecting news in Ramgarh Upazila of Khagrachhari.
The incident allegedly took place on Monday in the area adjacent to Fenirkul Scale in Ramgarh Municipality.
Journalist Shahed Rana said, "When two policemen in civilian clothes came and took away a 15-year-old child and a 19-year-old youth from a house next to my house on charges of stealing a mobile phone, they put them in handcuffs. When I asked them to identify themselves, SI Ansar Ali said, 'Who are you?' After I introduced myself as a journalist, the policeman started behaving even worse and said, 'What kind of journalist are you? You are a hypocrite. If you go too far, I will take you to the police station along with the accused.'" SI Ansar Ali behaved harshly with him in front of the locals and harassed him in various ways. He was mentally embarrassed and lost his job.
He said he was physically obstructed.
The incident has sparked outrage among local journalists. They said media workers are responsible for gathering and disseminating information in the public interest. Interfering with news gathering or behaving disrespectfully towards journalists is against freedom of expression and the normal functioning of the media.
However, attempts were made to contact accused SI Md. Ansar Ali to get his statement on the matter, but his comment was not immediately available.
When Ramgarh Police Station OC Md. Nazir Alam was informed about the matter by Ramgarh Press Club leaders, he defended SI Ansar Ali without taking any statement from the victim journalist Shahed Rana.
Journalist organizations and concerned circles have demanded an impartial investigation into the incident to uncover the true facts and take necessary action if the allegations are found to be true.
