3 journos held hostage, assaulted by Tongi 'drug gang'

The victims were reporters Robiul Hasan and Asiful Islam Rifat, along with photojournalist Abir Ahmed Supto.

According to a written complaint filed by Robiul Hasan with Tongi West Police Station, a group of 20 to 25 armed men detained the journalists for nearly three hours while they were gathering information about the drug trade.

The attackers allegedly assaulted them, threatened to kill them at gunpoint and forced them to drink a liquid reportedly mixed with sleeping medication.

The assailants also allegedly staged a false confession by placing drugs and money in front of the journalists and recording a video of them. Their cameras, mobile phones and press identification cards were also reportedly seized.

The incident has renewed concerns over journalists' safety, particularly as a journalist from Daily Kalbela was also allegedly abducted and tortured in the same area earlier.

The back-to-back incidents have raised serious questions about the safety of journalists conducting field investigations in Tongi.