Teknaf ‘yaba traders’ attack 5 journalists

Five on-duty journalists were attacked allegedly by a gang of yaba peddlers in Cox's Bazar's Teknaf upazila. Their cameras, mobile phones and money were snatched away.

This was today's second untoward incident to have taken place in Teknaf, the first one being an attack on a camp of law enforcers that resulted in death of one person.

The injured were identified as Suja Uddin Rubel, a staff reporter of private Somoy Television, its cameraman Faraj Uddin, Toufikul Islam Lipu, reporter of Independent Television, its cameraperson Shariful Islam, and Babu Kanti Dey, cameraperson of Ekattor Television.

The five journalists said to have went to the house of one Bhutto, a wanted smuggler of the contraband yaba, in Najirpara around 5:00pm, our local correspondent reports.

"As we reached his house, yaba smugglers attacked our van and stabbed Rubel," said victim Lipu.

The gang also beat rest of the journalists, leaving them severely injured, and snatched their cameras, mobile phones and others belongings, he added.

The injured were admitted to Teknaf Upazila Health Complex.

Teknaf Upzial Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Shafiul Islam and two teams of Rapid Action Battalion and police visited the victims.

Confirming the incident, Kabir Ahmad, an inspector of Teknaf Police Station, said they have sent a police team to investigate the incident. According to him, Bhutto, is a top wanted yaba smuggler.

"There are five cases against Bhutto. He has also served prison time. Police is trying to catch him," he said.