The Hindu : Journalist stabbed to death in Medak

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Feb 23, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Journalist stabbed to death in Medak

By Our Staff Reporter

NIZAMABAD, FEB. 22. A journalist working for Andhra Prabha Telugu daily was stabbed to death by three persons in neighbouring Medak district in the early hours today.

The Medak DSP, T.Laxminarasaiah, told The Hindu that the victim, V.Yadagiri, 35, working as reporter for Andhra Prabha daily in Medak town was threatened by an excise contractor some time ago following a report about sale of adulterated toddy in Tekmal mandal. Local people intervened and reportedly settled the issue between the journalist and the contractors. A case was registered with the police earlier by the victim in connection with the threats held out by the culprits.

The accused identified as Laxminarayana, a former militant, Srinivas, and another unidentified person reportedly hatched a plan to eliminate the reporter. Accordingly, they invited the victim to a party. The deceased journalist accompanied by two more reporters working for vernacular dailies went out for the party. The accused and the deceased reportedly consumed liquor and left on their vehicles. Laxminarayana reportedly accompanied Yadagiri on his vehicle.

As the victim neared his house, Laxminarayana allegedly whipped out a knife and stabbed Yadagiri. Two others are understood to have caught the victim when the accused was stabbing Yadagiri. Family members of Yadagiri rushed him to the Medak Government Hospital where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

The body was shifted to the mortuary pending post-mortem. The DSP said all the three persons involved in the incident are absconding. Special teams have been despatched to nab the culprits. The Medak SP, Devendra Singh Chauhan, rushed to the spot on receiving information. Meanwhile, journalists from Medak and nearby mandals staged a rasta roko protesting against the incident. They raised slogans and demanded the arrest of the accused immediately. They expressed concern over the growing attacks on journalists.

In Nizamabad, the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists (APUWJ) district president, P. Devidas, secretary, S.A.Lateef, the Nizamabad District TV Journalists Association president, A.Suryaprakash Reddy, and secretary, A.S.Sambaiah, condemned the killing of the Andhra Prabha reporter.

In Hyderabad, the State unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party condemned the murder of the Andhra Prabha reporter in Medak on Saturday night and said such killings posed a threat to press freedom and democracy.

In a statement issued here, G. Kishan Reddy, president of the Janata Yuva Morcha and general secretary of the party, demanded immediate constitution of a high-level team of officials to arrest the persons responsible for the murder.

Mr. Reddy said Yadagiri had become popular by his coverage highlighting the district's political, and social problems. He conveyed the party's condolences to the reporter's family.

K. Chandrasekhar Rao, president of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, while condemning the murder of Yadagiri demanded payment of Rs.5 lakhs as ex gratia to the journalist's family.

In a statement, he wanted the police to take steps to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

A. Anjaneyulu, general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Union of Working Journalists, said that Yadagiri was killed due to his exposes on the illegal toddy trade in which some TDP leaders were allegedly involved.

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