Suspended superintendent of police SM Fazlul Haque assaulted several video journalists on the premises of a Natore court on Tuesday.
He carried out the attack while leaving the courtroom after the Natore Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal had ordered sending him to jail in a case of domestic violence filed by his wife.
According to court sources and eyewitnesses, Haque appeared before the Natore Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal on Tuesday noon, seeking bail.
Judge Muhammad Abdur Rahim, however, rejected his bail plea and ordered him to be sent to jail.
While being escorted from the courtroom to the court cell, Haque suddenly attacked video journalists who were filming the scene, they said.
Among the injured were Shamim Hossain Suman from Ekattor TV, Rokon Himu from Somoy TV, and RM Robi from NTV, whom he punched and struck.
Despite the presence of court police officers, none of them intervened to stop Haque鈥檚 assault. It was only after other journalists rushed in when police placed Haque inside the court cell.
Protesting at the attack, journalists gathered on the court premises and later in the presence of army personnel and additional police forces, Haque was placed in a prison van and transported to the central jail.
Asked about why Haque was not handcuffed despite the court鈥檚 order, court police inspector Mostafa Kamal did not make any comment instantly.
Shahid Mahmud Mithu, joint general secretary of Natore Lawyers鈥� Association, said that regardless of an accused person鈥檚 status, he or she should be handcuffed when ordered to jail.
鈥楾he fact that a suspended police officer was given special treatment is a clear violation of the law,鈥� he added.
Nazmul Hasan, general secretary of Natore Press Club, said that it was extremely unfortunate and unacceptable that journalists were attacked by an accused person on the court premises.
鈥楬ad the accused been properly handcuffed, this attack would not have occurred,鈥� he said.