MP: Truck mows down journalist fighting sand mafia
Reminding yet again that India is unsafe for journalists, a stringer for a news channel was mowed down in broad daylight in MP's Bhind district this morning. Sandeep Sharma, a journalist with News World channel, had conducted two stings to expose corruption in police. Sharma, who had also reported on the sand mafia, had sought police protection citing a threat to his life.
The chilling moment captured on CCTV camera
#WATCH:Chilling CCTV footage of moment when Journalist Sandeep Sharma was run over by a truck in Bhind. He had been reporting on the sand mafia and had earlier complained to Police about threat to his life. #MadhyaPradesh pic.twitter.com/LZxNuTLyap
— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2018
Police have seized truck but driver managed to flee
The chilling moment he was run over was captured on CCTV camera. Sharma was rushed to a nearby hospital, but succumbed during treatment. While seeking police protection, Sharma had accused a sub-divisional police officer of conniving with sand mafia members. Police said they have seized the truck, but the driver is absconding. A case of death by negligence has been registered.
With 50 Vyapam deaths, MP is not known for safety
CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan has assured strict action against the culprit, while Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia demanded a CBI enquiry. Incidentally, 50 people connected to MP's Vyapam scam, including journalists, have died mysteriously since it was unearthed in 2013. Presently, over 50 cases are pending at Bhopal's Special Vyapam Scam Branch. For now, police have formed a special investigation team to probe Sharma's death.
At least 30 Indian journalists killed since 1992
Last year saw several murders of mediapersons, including that of senior journalist Gauri Lankesh in Bengaluru, two local reporters in Tripura and one in UP. Available data suggests at least 30 journalists have been killed in India since 1992.
