Raipur: A Maoist ambush Tuesday killed Doordarshan cameraman Achyuta Nanda Sahu and two policemen in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district, which is set to go for polling in the first phase of Assembly elections in the state November 12.
Two other police personnel and a journalist also sustained injuries in the ambush, the second in the last four days, that took place around 11.20 am when a Doordarshan crew was moving with a security patrol for coverage in Aranpur area, Deputy Inspector General of Police P Sundarraj told the media here.
“Two police personnel died on the spot while the cameraman, who suffered grievous injuries, later succumbed to his injuries,” said the officer. He added that the police personnel and the media crew were moving from Aranpur police station to Nilaway village in vehicles when they were attacked.
Sahu, 34, hailed from Loisinga in Odisha’s Bolangir district. The slain police personnel were identified as constable Mangal Ram and assistant sub-inspector Rudra Pratap Singh. The injured police personnel are Vishnu Netam and Rakesh Kaushal. The official said an inquiry has been ordered to find out the reason behind the incident. He accused the Maoists attempting to create hurdles in the upcoming elections in the state. The Maoists have asked people to boycott the polls. Dantewada is among the areas going to polls in the first phase covering 18
constituencies.
“Now our primary focus is to provide medical assistance to the injured,” the officer added.
Meanwhile, DD News in a tweet said: “DD News had deputed a team to cover the Chhattisgarh polls, comprising cameraperson Achyuta Nanda Sahu, Dheeraj Kumar and M.M. Sharma. In a Naxal attack, Sahu was martyred. The entire DD News family salutes his service and stands by his family in this hour of grief.”
Condemning the attack, information and broadcasting minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore tweeted: “Strongly condemn the Naxal attack on DD News Live crew. Deeply saddened by the demise of our cameraman and two jawans. These insurgents will not weaken our resolve. We will prevail.”
On Saturday, the Maoists had fired on a contingent of Central Reserve Police Force in Bijapur district, killing four troopers on a day when Chief Minister Raman Singh kicked off the ruling BJP’s election campaign for Assembly elections.
He’s a go-getter: Colleagues
New Delhi: DD News cameraman Achyutanand Sahu, who was killed in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh, was a go-getter with a penchant for challenging assignments, his colleagues said. A pall of gloom descended on the newsroom of the public broadcaster as reports of his death came in with several of his colleagues reminiscing how the 34-year-old would make them smile with his light-hearted quips. Sahu’s colleagues at DD News wore black bands, even on air, to condemn the attack by Naxals. “He was a very dedicated cameraperson, ready to take on any responsibility given to him. He had done wide-ranging coverage of events outside Delhi,” DD News Director General Mayank Agarwal told media persons.
Rs 15L relief for kin of slain lensman
New Delhi: I&B minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore Tuesday announced financial aid of `15 lakh to the next of kin of the DD News cameraman who was killed in a Naxal attack in Chhattisgarh. Rathore said `10 lakh would be given as ex-gratia by DD and `5 lakh would be from the Journalist Welfare Fund of the Press Information Bureau. Sub inspector Rudra Pratap, assistant constable Mangalu and DD News cameraman Achyutanand Sahu were killed in a Naxal ambush in poll-bound Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district Tuesday. Earlier, Rathore tweeted: “Strongly condemn the Naxal attack on @DDNewsLive crew in Dantewada. Deeply saddened by the demise of our cameraman Achyuta Nanda Sahu and two jawans of @crpfindia (sic).”