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Alert

Journalist killed

(Media Watch/IFEX) - The following is a 17 November 2005 Media Watch press release:

Journalist Killed

Faridpur District Bureau chief and staff correspondent of the daily "Samakal", Gautam Das, 28, was strangled to death at his office Thursday. His legs and hand were found fractured and a nylon rope was tied around his neck.

Hasanuzzaman, reporter of the "Samakal" in Faridpur, said that he found the door closed at about 10 am and again at 1 pm. As he received no response from inside even after frequent callings, he informed the matter to Kotwali police.

Police recovered the body after breaking open the door of "Samakal" bureau office on the second floor of the Sarani Super Market at about 2 pm. The body was found lying on the floor beside the wall.

As the news spread, Gautam's colleagues rushed to the spot and burst into tears seeing their long-time comrade lying quiet. People from different strata of the society, including the leaders of political, social and cultural organisations, also rushed to the "Samakal" office. The cause was not known but his colleagues said recently he had written some news about the activities of Islamic militant groups.

Journalists from different media outlets in Faridpur brought out a procession demanding the immediate arrest and trial of the criminals behind the ghastly killing of Gautam. They have announced four days of protests.

The police superintendent of Faridpur, Abdul Jalil, joined the protest rally and promised a proper investigation into the killing.

Gautam Das was the second son of Balaram Das, from Chandidasdi village, Bhanga upazila district. He worked as the Faridpur correspondent for the daily "Prothom Alo" from its first launching before joining the daily "Samakal" as its staff correspondent and bureau chief.

Gautam's body was kept in the mortuary of the Faridpur Diabetic hospital after autopsy at the Faridpur Medical College hospital morgue. The funeral will be held at his village home on Friday.

The Bangladesh Federal Union of Journalists-BFUJ and the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) have strongly condemned and protested the killing. In separate statements, BFUJ and SCBA leaders expressed deep shock at the killing and extended their sympathy to Gautam Das's family members. They also demanded the arrest and exemplary punishment of his killers.