I/II. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/Maoists-kill-journalist-in-Bastar/articleshow/26982097.cms
Maoists kill journalist in BastarJoseph John<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/toireporter/author-Joseph-John.cms> ,TNN | Dec 7, 2013, 03.23 AM IST RAIPUR: A journalist reporting from Maoist hotbed Bastar for over two decades was killed by the guerrillas in Basaguda in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Friday afternoon. Reddy, who's in his early fifties, lay sprawled in blood at a busy marketplace after Maoists <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Maoists> attacked him with sharp-edged weapons. He succumbed on way to the Bijapur government hospital. Reddy, who wrote for a vernacular newspaper, Deshbandhu, is the second Bastar journalist to be killed by Maoists this year. Reporting from the conflict zone was never easy for Reddy as he always lay locked in the crossfire between security forces and Maoists with both treating him with suspicion. In 2008, Reddy was booked under the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Security Act for having links with Maoists and jailed. The rebels, however, suspected him of being a police informer and blew up his home at Bijapur. Reddy was later released from prison due to lack of evidence. Eye-witnesses of Reddy's killing suspected that 'Bal Sangam' members of CPI(Maoist) were among those who attacked the journalist. "In February this year, another journalist Nemichand Jain was killed by rebels in Sukma. Forty five days later, Maoists apologized for Jain's killing. We condemn the attack on journalists," said S Karimuddin, president of Bastar Journalist Association<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Bastar-Journalist-Association>. Journalists in Bijapur said Reddy had been receiving threats from Maoists even after his release from jail. Reddy's detention under the controversial law came to limelight after activists mounted a global campaign for release of Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) leader Dr Binayak Sen<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/topic/Binayak-Sen>, who was also arrested and jailed under the same law. Reddy, a resident of Basaguda, was arrested in 2008 after a Maoist, Rambabu, disclosed during interrogation that he had links with Reddy and he supplied ration to the rebels. Like many journalists in Bastar, Reddy too earned his living selling grain and forest produce even while contributing stories to local newspapers. His writings on Maoist violence earned him the wrath of both Maoists and security forces. On one occasion, the rebels threatened to kill him and his family if he didn't quit Chhattisgarh. His house was set ablaze and the rebels forced him to flee to Cherlapal in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh. Reddy's friends said his family had to apologise to rebels before he could return home. Government authorities were also displeased with Reddy as he would often rake up the problems of Basaguda, an area officials were reluctant to visit because of strong Maoist presence. In 1998, the authorities booked Reddy under the Essential Commodities Act, but again the case fell flat during the first hearing, local journalists said. When the controversial anti-Maoist movement Salwa Judum was at its peak between June 2005 and 2008, Reddy refused to support the vigilante group which accused him of being a Maoist sympathizer. Journalists in the conflict zone are mostly sandwiched between security forces and Maoists. There were instances in Dantewada, where journalists had to quietly leave Bastar after being threatened either by Maoists or local police. II. http://www.indianexpress.com/news/chhattisgarh-maoists-kill-journalist-at-weekly-market-in-bastar-village/1204447/ Chhattisgarh: Maoists kill journalist at weekly market in Bastar village Express News Service <http://www.indianexpress.com/columnist/ens/> : Raipur, Sat Dec 07 2013, 09:46 hrs[image: Small][image: Large][image: Print]<http://www.indianexpress.com/story-print/1204447/> Maoists killed a senior reporter of a local daily at a weekly market in Basaguda village of Bijapur district of Bastar region on Friday. Sain Reddy, in early 50s, was working with Deshbandhu, one of the oldest newspapers of Chhattisgarh. In a statement, Bijapur journalists expressed outrage and called for Bastar bandh on Saturday. "We condemn the incident and will soon declare our plan of action," said S Karimuddin, president of Bastar Patrakar Sangh. Karimuddin said Reddy, the native of an interior village, was caught in the police-Maoist conflict. About six or seven years ago, police had arrested Reddy suspecting him to be a Maoist informer. He was released later as police could not find any evidence against him. Some years ago, Maoists burnt down his village home, forcing him to flee to Andhra Pradesh. He returned after some time and was working with Deshbandhu since then. "We owe allegiance to none, still both sides suspect us," added Karimuddin, who knew Reddy for decades. This is the second killing of a journalist by Maoists in Bastar this year. In February, the killing of Nemichand Jain had led to an outrage following which the Maoists had apologised. Jain was the first journalist to be killed by Maoists in Bastar. A native of Basaguda, Reddy was visiting his home for the weekly market on Friday. He was at his home when around 1.30 pm, 3-4 youths attacked him with axes and other sharp weapons. As he ran towards the nearby police station, the assailants chased him and attacked him again. He died on way to hospital, locals said. Bijapur journalists termed it the "most cowardice act" of Maoists so far. Bijapur Superintendent of Police Prashant Agarwal said a small action team of Maoists committed the incident. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/groups/opt_out.
