A sub-inspector (SI) allegedly beat up New Age's Dhaka University (DU) correspondent and the journalist's friend after he was about to be photographed violating a recent ban by riding pillion on another policeman's motorcycle in the capital's Bijoynagar yesterday.

Nazmul Huda, who needed stitches in a head wound while being treated at Dhaka Medical College Hospital with third-year DU student Aktaruzzaman Shuvo, said his motorcycle was still being held at Ramna Police Station.

On-duty policemen last night said it would be released after papers were furnished.

Nazmul said he himself was stopped and Shuvo was asked to get down from his motorcycle by police when he saw SI Mehedi Hasan violating the ban.

The SI and other policemen beat them with rifle butts and stomped on them wearing boots all the way from the spot to and inside the police station, he said.

DU and senior journalists got them released after signing an undertaking around 8:00pm, said Nazmul.

The Daily Star could not contact the SI despite repeated attempts.

Dhaka Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner (Raman zone) Shiblee Noman said they would investigate the matter.