The journalists are Hasan Jahid, staff correspondent of the daily Manavjamin and Kushtia correspondent of RTV, Al-Mamun Sagar, staff correspondent of ATN Bangla and Kushtia correspondent of the daily Jugantor, Munshi Tarikul Islam, Kushtia correspondent of the daily Samakal and Chennel 1.

Equipped with arms, the three stormed the business establishment of Azad Biswas, a contractor and a ruling BNP leader of the town, at about 5:00pm on May 7 and demanded Tk 40,000 from him, Azad said in the case.

Azad, who is a close associate of lawmaker Shahidul, said when he declined to pay, the journalists threatened him to shoot and looted Tk 10,000 in cash and other valuables including a gold chain at gunpoint.

Earlier on Tuesday, ruling BNP lawmaker Prof Sahidul Islam of Kushtia-2 constituency (Mirpur-Bheramara) filed an extortion case against them with Bheramara Police Station.

Sahidul in his case said the journalists went to his Bheramara residence on May 2 and demanded Tk 50,000.

Following a Manavjamin report on Sunday about the declining popularity of three lawmakers including Sahidul, the lawmaker on Monday threatened the journalists of dire consequences in the presence of Forest and Environment Minister Tariqul Islam when they went to cover the programme on the birth anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore at Shilaidah.

Police raided different places in the town to arrest the journalists who are now on the run to avoid police harassment, sources said.