Youth Detained in Jamalpur's Melandah After Audio Threatening Journalists and Police Goes Viral
Police in Melandah, Jamalpur, have detained a young man, Md Azmain Hossain Lanju, 22, over allegations that he threatened to beat journalists, police and administration officials. He was detained on Thursday (22 October) afternoon in front of the Melandah Upazila Parishad after an audio clip containing the alleged threats spread on social media.
Azmain Hossain is the son of Suja Mia of Purba Malancha area in the upazila. Local sources say he is a supporter of the Melandah Upazila Chhatra Dal.
In the viral audio, he is heard saying that the BNP is in running power and asking what the point of being Chhatra Dal is if they cannot beat a few journalists, a few police and administration officials. The audio also allegedly mentions beating journalists if 'Jewel Bhai' says so, and speaking to the MP afterwards about the matter.
It was not only the audio. Several screenshots of threatening messages sent on Messenger have also spread on social media. In one screenshot, he is seen calling a journalist a 'fraud journalist' and talking about posting about him on Facebook.
Another message speaks of taking that journalist to the Melandah Upazila BNP office, beating him and handing him over to police. A further message says that if a journalist from today's programme comes, he should be taken inside the party office and beaten, and that the work would start if 'Jewel Bhai' says so.
It was learned that the audio recording had been sent to a Messenger group of the Melandah Upazila Chhatra Dal. It later spread across social media.
After the incident, police conducted a drive and detained Azmain Hossain. However, why he gave such threats against journalists is not yet known.
Jamalpur Assistant Superintendent of Police (Madarganj Circle) Mostafizur Rahman Bhuiyan said he was detained over the incident of threatening to beat journalists, police and administration officials. The process of taking necessary legal action against him is under way, and he will be sent to court on Friday.
Attempts were made to reach Upazila Chhatra Dal convener Moniruzzaman Shiplu Fakir on his mobile phone several times for comment, but he did not receive the calls. As a result, no official statement from the local Chhatra Dal leadership was available.
The incident, in which journalists, police and administration officials were threatened together, has drawn local attention. Police moved quickly to detain him after the audio and screenshots spread.
Once the detained youth is produced before court on Friday, the next legal steps will be determined there. Police say the process of taking necessary legal action is continuing.
