TIL Desk/National/Raipur/Naxals today released a statement on the Dantewada attack, that left security personnel and a Doordarshan cameraman dead. The letter said that, ‘DD Cameraman Achutyanand Sahu was killed after being caught in the ambush and we had no intention of targeting the media.’
Police have howerver rubbished the statement. Dantewada SP Abhishek Pallav said, “Why was the camera looted? Because it had recorded evidence of what happened in the first few minutes of targeted media ambush. Multiple bullet wounds and skull fractures on the martyred cameraman in no ways indicates it was by mistake.”
Union Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore has announced a compensation of Rs 15 lakh and a job to Sahus widow. The Information and Broadcasting Minister strongly condemned the attack on Doordarshan News crew in Dantewada. Deeply saddened by the demise of our cameraman Achyuta Nanda Sahu and two jawans of CRPF. These insurgents will not weaken our resolve. We will prevail, he said.
The attacks came in the wake of Naxals warning the locals to stay out of the Assembly elections to be held in two phases on November 12 and 20. Meanwhile, about 65,000 troops from various Central and state police forces will be deployed for the first phase of the Assembly polls in the state, officials said.
