Davor Dragicevic. Archive photo: Beta

A Bosnian Serb man who has led months of protests accusing authorities of covering up what he says was the murder of his 21-year-old son was arrested on Tuesday in the main city of Bosnia’s Republika Srpska entity, Banja Luka, police said.

A lawyer for Davor Dragicevic said he was arrested as he left his home, days after he and 19 other people were charged over a protest outside the Republika Srpska parliament on December 17.

The lawyer, Ifet Feraget, told N1 television that Dragicevic was arrested for not responding to a summons to a court hearing in the case. Bosnian media later reported that Suzana Radanovic, Dragicevic’s former wife who was with him at the time of his arrest, was also taken into custody by police.

Dragicevic has led nine months of protests in Banja Luka since his and Radanovic’s son, David, was found dead in a shallow river in the city.

Police say he drowned, but conflicting pathology reports and inconsistencies in police statements have fuelled anger over what many Bosnian Serbs see as police incompetence and indifference. David’s parents say they believe their son was murdered and have alleged a cover-up, something authorities have vehemently denied.

Shortly after news of Dragicevic’s arrest, people began gathering on Krajina Square where hundreds have turned out daily at 6 p.m. in protest at the death and which is now popularly known as David’s Square. Using yellow tape, police had fenced off an improvised shrine where people leave flowers and light candles.

People began gathering on Krajina Square where the situation remains tense. Photo: BIRN

Unconfirmed Bosnian media reports said police detained Bosnian Serb opposition lawmaker Drasko Stanivukovic at the square, with a photo being shared on Twitter that appeared to show the MP being taken away by police.

Four days ago, Republika Srpska police said they had filed criminal charges against Dragicevic and 19 other people over a protest held outside the parliament in mid-December when the entity’s new government was being elected.

Police on Tuesday said they had taken a person identified as D.D. into custody “in order to document the crime of ‘Endangering Security’.”

Using yellow tape, police had fenced off an improvised shrine where people leave flowers and light candles. Photo: BIRN

The ruling party in the mainly Serb entity of Bosnia says the protests have become politicised, something Dragicevic has dismissed.

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