Witnesses elude police in Rony, TV cases

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Police are yet to get any witness in the cases lodged by ruling MP Golam Maula Rony and private Independent TV co-owner Salman F Rahman.

The Awami League MP was accused of allegedly assaulting two Independent TV newsmen while Salman has been accused of supposed extortion.
“People are apparently too scared to speak about the incident,” Sub-Inspector Abu Zafar, the investigation officer of the cases, said.
On Saturday, the TV station filed a case accusing Rony of murderous assaults on two of its journalists who had gone to the MP’s Topkhana Road office to interview him.
Hours later, Rony sued the TV’s co-owner Salman accusing him of extortion, abduction and murder attempt.
The Patuakhali-3 MP surrendered to Chief Metropolitan Magistrate’s court on Sunday and secured bail in the case.
A day after the incident, a group of senior broadcast journalists urged the media to boycott Rony until the matter was resolved.
However, he appeared on a talk-show on S A TV that night.
His party has distanced itself from him only to add to his woes. The Awami League expressed dismay over the said attack hinting that Parliament might take actions against him.
SI Zafar suspects the people’s ‘fear’ is triggered by the fact that both the accused are tied to the Awami League.

The police officer has been whining about lack of assistance from the witnesses. “People there are trying to avoid police,” he said.
He believes the witnesses in the cases were not assisting police fearing for their own safety.
“It’ll be possible to complete investigation if we take time and proceed with patience.”