Bhind (MP)/Ara (Bihar): Two journalists were killed in road accidents in Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, police and officials said Monday, amid allegations by their family members that it could be a case of murder.
Sandeep Sharma, who worked for a local news channel in Bhind in Madhya Pradesh and who had complained about threats to his life after he carried out a sting operation on illegal sand mining, was today mowed down by a truck in Madhya Pradesh, officials said. Sharma, 35, had told the district administration he feared he could be killed by the sand mafia, his nephew, Vikas Purohit, said in a complaint to the police.
The journalist was talking on his phone by the side of Ater Road in Bhind in front of a police station when the truck, used to ferry sand, ran over him, officials said.
In Bihar, Naveen Nishchal an Ara-based journalist who worked for a Hindi daily, was among two persons killed when an SUV rammed into their bike in Bhojpur district, with the family alleging that it was a case of murder and that a former village head was behind it, police said.
Purohit, in his complaint to the city Kotwali police in Bhind, alleged that Sharma had been facing a threat to his life because of the recent sting operation he had carried out on the sand mafia.
"Sandeep had petitioned the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP), Inspector General (IG), Superintendent of Police (SP) and the Human Rights Commission stating that he feared for his life and had demanded security," Purohit said.
In his report to the top officials, Sharma had said because of the sting operation against the sand mafia and the Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), the officer was transferred, Purohit claimed.
Sharma was to have recorded his statement against the SDPO and was being threatened by unidentified people, Purohit added.
Bhind SP Prashant Khare said Sharmas application to the authorities was being examined and the incident probed.
The driver of the truck fled the scene after the accident, the police said.
"We have formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the entire incident. A case under section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) has been registered," Khare said. Naveen Nishchal and his friend Vijay Singh were riding a motorcycle last night when they were crushed to death by the SUV near Nahsi village in Ara.
Irate villagers intercepted the vehicle, but its occupants fled. The mob set the SUV on fire, Avakash Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Bhojpur, said.
Rajesh, brother of Naveen, had alleged in the FIR that it was a case of murder and a former Panchayat Mukhiya Ahmed Ali alias Harsu and his son Dabloo were behind it, the SP said.
The Sports Utility Vehicle(SUV) allegedly belonged to Harsu.
It was alleged in the FIR that Harsu had been nursing a grouse against the reporter, the SP said.
Efforts are on to nab the father-son duo who are absconding, the SP said adding that villagers had also vandalised the house of the ex-village head.
Police have been deployed in the village where the situation is tense but under control.