Journalists attacked by farmers during Capital conflict

DGP Gautham Sawang says that police have information over 500 outsiders, entered into Mandadam and abutting villages

Vijayawada: Uddandarayunipalem farmers attacked media vehicles at BJP Andhra Pradesh President Kanna Lakshminarayan’s programme, injuring media personnel. The media had arrived to cover Mr Kanna’s ‘Mouna Deeksha’, which protested the government’s three-capital and against the shifting of Amaravati. The farmers, especially women, attacked the personnel of four vernacular news channels, abusing the professionals for terming the protestors as “paid artists”.

The farmers tried to attack a female reporter, Deepthi, who was trying to approach Kanna Lakshminarayana for an interview. Noticing the assault, another reporter, Hareesh, tried to prevent it. However, the agitators attacked their vehicle, by pelting stones at it. The assault had also severely injured two more reporters —Vasanth and Rama Rao.

The protestors attacked the media vehicle again at Velagapudi, injuring the reporters sitting in the vehicle — Deepthi and cameraman Suresh. The media personnel were shifted to a hospital, while their vehicle was completely damaged. The attack had also left a few police personnel injured.

Meanwhile, the media decided to boycott the coverage of the protests of capital region farmers, following the attack. Notably, a majority of the female farmers attacked the media personnel.

Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police (IG) Vineet Brijlal said that they are trying to identify the strangers, who entered the village and attacked the media personnel. The police are verifying video footage to do the same. DGP Gautham Sawang told NewsMeter that they have information about the entry of around 500 outsiders into Mandadam village. “We are verifying the facts and will take action against the miscreants who attacked media personnel,” Sawang said.