An Ansar member and newsmen of three private TV channels were injured as locals attacked a mobile court and officials of Titas Gas Transmission and Distribution Company Limited at Mulapara village in Sadar upazila yesterday.

Injured Ansar Abul Kalam, 45, was rushed to Narsingdi General Hospital and later shifted to National Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedic Rehabilitation (NITOR) in the capital.

Sources said a mobile court let by Executive Magistrate Jahirul Hayat, along with Shahidul Islam, manager of Titas Gas in Narsingdi, went to the village and disconnected about 500 illegal domestic gas lines around 12:30pm. At one stage of the drive, aggrieved locals attacked the mobile court and beat up Abul Kalam mercilessly.

They snatched his rifle when Kalam jumped into a pond in a bid to save himself from the attack.

Later, the villagers swooped on Ayub Khan Sarkar, district correspondent of Channel 9, and two camerapersons, Kawsar Ahmed, of Somoy TV, and Laxman Burman, of Channel 24, while they were covering the incident.

Meanwhile, Abu Hena Morshed Zaman, Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Narsingdi, and Additional Superintendent of Police Shahnewaz Khaled visited the injured newsmen at Narsingdi General Hospital and inquired about their condition. 

Headed by Additional District Magistrate Kamal Hossain, a three-member probe committee was formed yesterday to probe the incident.

The committee has been asked to submit its report within three working days.