Army arrests 3 journalists in Gafargaon
Gafargaon (Mymensingh) Correspondent
Army members have arrested three journalists on charges of blackmailing and extorting TK-6 lakh from the Media Park area on the banks of the Brahmaputra River in Gafargaon.
Based on a secret tip-off, the fraudster gang was arrested in a raid conducted in the Saltia Bridge Media Park area of Gafargaon Municipality on Saturday afternoon. In this two-hour raid, two people were arrested in the evening and another one at around 7:15 pm.
The arrested are Md. Khadimul Islam (40), Md. Salimullah (42) and Mazaharul Haque (50). All three are residents of different areas of Gafargaon upazila of Mymensingh district.
The victim, Anarul Haque (37), lives in Charmachaland village of Charalgi union of the upazila. He alleged that the three arrested persons, posing as journalists, intimidated and threatened to publish defamatory information and extorted a total of six lakh taka from him.
After the arrest, they admitted to the truth of the allegations during initial interrogation.
Members of the Gafargaon temporary army camp handed over the arrested persons to Gafargaon police station at around 9 pm.
The operation was led by FS Sergeant Aziz and army personnel. Sources said that important information was obtained from the arrested persons in the operation.
The incident has created a sensation at the local level. Gafargaon police said that they are investigating the matter legally and the process of taking necessary action is underway.
Gafargaon police station OC Mohammad Shibirul Islam said, the arrested persons committed this crime by posing as journalists.
Legal action is under process against the three persons, who are the employees of local news portal Pratidin Bangladesh.
