Police arrested a man on Thursday for allegedly vandalizing a government official's office and demanding extortion money while posing as a journalist.
The suspect, identified as Johnny Biswas, was detained at the Bangladesh Road Transport Authority (BRTA) office in Faridpur and later taken into custody by Kotwali Police.
According to Mehedi Hasan, a Motor Vehicle Inspector at the Faridpur BRTA, Johnny Biswas entered his office on Thursday afternoon and introduced himself as a reporter for the Weekly Bangla Sangbad. The suspect allegedly accused the inspector of corruption and demanded Tk 20,000 to suppress a supposed news report.
"When I challenged his credentials, he became aggressive, slammed my desk, and shattered the glass tabletop," said Mehedi Hasan. Office staff rushed to the scene upon hearing the commotion and detained Biswas until police arrived.
Palash Khisa, Assistant Director of the Faridpur BRTA Circle, confirmed that legal proceedings are underway. "We are filing a case for unauthorized entry, vandalism, and attempted extortion," he stated.
Locals and police sources revealed that Biswas has a history of similar behavior. Two weeks ago, he was reportedly handed over to the police for demanding money from a brickyard in the Tepakhola area. Allegations have also surfaced that he occasionally poses as a leader of the anti-discrimination student movement to harass citizens.
In a video recorded during his detention, Johnny Biswas denied the vandalism and extortion charges. He claimed he had been working for the Weekly Bangla Sangbad for one month and was merely at the office to conduct an interview.
Faridpur Kotwali Police Station OC Mahmudul Hasan confirmed the arrest, stating that further legal action would be taken following a formal written complaint.
