Another journalist burned to death, allegedly by sand mafia

A second journalist has met with a fiery end, this time for standing up to the sand mining mafia. Madhya Pradesh-based journalist Sandeep Kothari has been burnt to death allegedly for exposing the sand mafia. His burnt body was found lying near railway tracks at Sindi town in Wardha district of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra.

Kothari, 40, who hailed from Balaghat district, used to write for several Jabalpur-based newspapers as a tehsil correspondent. He had been relentlessly exposing criminals and the sand mafia in particular.

Kothari was reportedly abducted from Katangi tehsil in Balaghat district two days back.

''A 40-year-old local journalist was allegedly murdered by three persons involved in illegal mining who kidnapped him and set him ablaze apparently over his refusal to withdraw a court case. The burnt body of Sandeep Kothari, who was abducted from Katangi tehsil in Balaghat district two days back, was found lying near railway tracks at Sindi town in Wardha district of east Maharashtra on Saturday night,'' police said.

Former MLA from Balaghat, Kishore Samrite, said Kothari was falsely implicated in more than 12 criminal cases.

Meanwhile, his family has demanded a CBI probe into the incident and accused sand mafia of carrying out the murder.

The Mumbai Press Club expressed shock over the killing of Sandeep Kothari, who has been burnt to death for exposing the sand mafia and requested the governments of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra to order a joint police investigation into this sordid killing.

Kothari was abducted on the night of 19 June when he was headed towards Umri village with his friend on his bike. His bike was hit by a four-wheeler and its occupants bundled him inside the vehicle and fled before beating up Kothari's friend Rahandle who was riding pillion. His body was also found on 21 June.

This incident of setting afire of a journalist comes after freelance journalist Jagendra Singh was set on fire by members of the UP police, who acted at the behest of Uttar Pradesh minister for backward classes welfare, Ram Murti Verma.

Jagendra Singh was mercilessly set afire after kerosene was poured on him by the goons, and he died a horrific death on 8 June. The attack on the journalist on 1 June in Shahjahanpur was organised by the minister after Jagendra Singh exposed Ram Murti Verma in a series of Facebook posts accusing him of involvement in illegal mining activities and land grabbing.

The two horrific incidents has come as a shock to the journalist fraternity across the country who have urged speedy investigation and trial.

''These two incidents must not be treated separately - and by and large there has been a trend on increasing number of attacks on journalists in cities as well as rural areas. The reasons may be varied. Even we can cite the recent incident of Mumbai photojournalist Amey Kharade being manhandled by policemen,'' the Press Club pointed out.

The Mumbai Press Club over the last several years - particularly since the killing of journalist J Dey - has been demanding that incident of attacks on journalists must be made non-bailable and congnizable.