Journalist attacked by masked men in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL: A local journalist was roughed up by a gang of masked men in yet another case of attacks by mining mafia in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh . The law and order situation in the region has gone beyond the control of police, say locals. The incident took place on September 28 and a video of the attack went viral on social media on Monday.

The video shows several men thrashing the journalist with canes on a busy street in broad daylight while the victim, Ripudaman Singh Kushwah, lies on the ground.

While the victim claimed that this attack was instigated by a minister of the ruling party, SP Rudolf Alwaris said that the suspects have been identified and efforts are being made to arrest them. The incident was reported from Lahar area.

Ripu Daman Singh, who runs a local newspaper- ‘India Ajkal’, was returning home after purchasing vegetables from the market when he was waylaid by the gang of five on two motorcycles.

One of them pushed him down from the vehicle. Several people in the locality remained mute spectators as he screamed for help. Ripu Daman Singh has accused Congress minister and Lahar MLA Dr Govind Singh for this attack claiming that it was a result of his news articles exposing nexus between Congress leaders and sand mafia . When contacted, Bhind SP Rudolf said, “We have registered the case in this matter. Investigations are underway. Nothing to say now.”

Dr Govind Singh could not be contacted for his version.

In 2018, former chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had recommended a CBI inquiry into the death of journalist Sandeep Sharma , who was mowed down by a speeding truck in the same region. The 35-year-old journalist, working with a regional news channel, was reportedly investigating illegal sand mining cases and alleged involvement of police in Bhind district. Sandeep was killed in broad daylight when he was returning home on his two-wheeler. Sandeep’s relatives had demanded a judicial or CBI inquiry into his killing as they suspected the role of sand mafia and police in it. Sandeep had exposed connections between the sand mafia and police through a video sting which was released some time ago. He had received repeated threats from the mafia after which Sandeep had filed a complaint with Bhind SP, citing immediate threat to his life from a police officer and sought protection.