Bail granted

The court comprising a first-class magistrate heard the case although it was not scheduled on the day.

On the night of December 28, three assailants pounced on journalist Shafiul Haque Mithu, Pirojpur correspondent for the Dainik Janakantha, as he returned home from the local press club. The assailants beat Mithu around the head and body with blunt weapons, breaking his right arm in several places.

As Mithu cried out for help, local people chased the assailants and caught one of them, Russel, red-handed and handed him over to the police. Mithu is now undergoing medical treatment in Dhaka. Pirojpur police charge-sheeted three assailants, including Russel.

According to sources in Pirojpur, as soon as Russel was released from jail, he threatened relatives of the victim with 'dire consequences' if the case was not withdrawn immediately.