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A police constable has been accused of entering a flat in Barishal and beating Asian TV's Barishal bureau chief, Firoz Mostafa, with a hammer.
The incident took place on Monday night at his rented home on Gorachand Das Road, according to Barishal Kotwali Model Police Station chief (OC) Al Mamun Ul Islam.
Firoz has been admitted to Sher-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital with serious injuries, reports bdnews24.com.
Amanatganj Police Station Constable Navid Anjum, who allegedly attacked the journalist, has been taken into custody.
Injured journalist Firoz said Navid had developed a friendship with him, having introduced himself as a sportsman.
He used to visit Firoz’s office frequently. Navid then became involved in drugs and online gambling.
"Then, suddenly, Navid blamed me for his email ID getting hacked. Navid has been causing me a lot of problems over this."
“Finally, he [Navid] tried to blackmail me using some of my family pictures. When he didn’t succeed, Navid brought some people with him to my flat on the 25th of October, and tortured me inhumanely.”
He continued, "From that day till the 2nd of November, Navid threatened me and held me captive while recording videos of the torture. Later, I called 999 and asked for help. Officers from Kotwali Model Police Station came and rescued me."
Firoz alleges that when he attempted to file a case that night, Kotwali Model Station’s then chief, Mizanur Rahman, refused to register it because the accused was a policeman. He later submitted a written complaint to the commissioner of Barishal Metropolitan Police on November 3.
The journalist says that tensions escalated after he was summoned to the commissioner’s office on Nov 13 for the complaint to be reviewed. He claims Navid threatened him in front of officials and that colleagues recorded the incident.
“As a consequence, Navid entered my home on Monday night and beat me indiscriminately with a hammer, injuring me severely. At one point, he locked me inside a room and fled.”
“In a bid to save myself, I called 999 and sought help. Later, Kotwali Model Police rescued me and admitted me to the hospital.”
On why he had refused to register a case, former Kotwali Police Station chief Mizanur said: “I have been transferred, so I won’t say anything about it.”
Current OC Al Mamun Ul Islam said, “The journalist was rescued and admitted to the hospital after it was reported through a 999 call. However, I’m new here. I’m not sure if there was any existing enmity between them.”
"We have yet to receive any written complaint regarding the incident. If we receive a complaint, we will investigate and take action."
He said that Amanatganj Police Outpost Constable Navid Anjum is currently in the custody of the outpost's chief.
Meanwhile, Firoz said he would file a case over the attack after recovering.