Daijiworld Media Network - Kadaba (SP)
Kadaba, Jun 6: Ganesh Idala (24), journalist of a private news channel, was beaten up by illegal sand extractors at Koriyar in Kodimbala village in the taluk. Idala had visited the spot to prepare a report based on information he got about illegal sand mining activity going on at Koriyar. The incident happened on Monday June 4 evening and the complaint was filed in the police station here on Tuesday.
Ganesh from Kenya in Aittoor village, Ajay from Maipaje in Nekkilady village, and a gang of eight persons have been accused of attacking the journalist.
Ganesh Idala had got information that those who obtained permission to extract sand from Kenya in Balpa village for undertaking work on Subrahmanya road, were also removing sand from River Kumaradhara for being transported elsewhere. Accompanied by Sharat, driver of the Maruti Omni vehicle belonging to the news channel, he had travelled to the spot to check for himself and prepare a report, when he was attacked, it is said.
When the attackers proceeded towards the van, Sharat succeeded in getting down from the van and running away. The accused who assaulted Ganesh not only snatched away his video camera and cell phone, but also forcibly took away the gold chain he was wearing, the complainant claimed. Injured Ganesh got admitted into a private hospital at Puttur. Puttur deputy superintendent of police, Muraleedhar, and Kadaba sub-inspector, Prakash Devadiga, visited the hospital and gathered information from Ganesh.
Counter complaints: Relating to the incident, two counter complaints were registered against the reporter in question. In a complaint made by Safiya, wife of Andu Kunhi from Nekkilady village and Lalita, wife of Ramesh from Patrody, they said that they were having bath in the river on Monday evening when a gang of six who claimed themselves as pressmen came in an Omni van and took their obscene photos. They also touched them inappropriately, meted out sexual harassment and posed death threats.
In another complaint, Ganesh, son of Melanta Sheenappa Gowda from Nekkilady said that he was moving in Bolero vehicle along with driver Karunakar on Monday for towards payment of money for sand ought through PWD for Kermau Koriyar zilla panchayat road when six persons said to be representatives of visual media stopped his vehicle, derided him, and snatched away Rs 1 lac cash he was carrying. Ganesh got admitted into a hospital at Mangaluru.