New Delhi: The incident of journalist Jagendra Singh’s brutal murder was still gaining heat, when, in another incident a journalist was allegedly assaulted by a bunch of anti-social elements in UP’s Pilibhit. An attempt was made on the life of TV journalist who had been reporting on a land usurpation case here on the night of June 13.
Haidar Khan, stringer for a news channel, got information about a wanted robber being injured in an accident in another village, Bilhari. On arriving at the spot, however, Haidar was allegedly attacked by Arvind Prakash (50) and accomplices, who tied him up and dragged him behind motorcycles till he lost consciousness.
Probed dead, attackers left him on the spot; Khan was taken to Puranpur Kotwali police station by unknown individuals, from where he was shifted to government hospital, Pilibhit, for treatment.
Khan had been reporting on Arvind Prakash’s alleged usurpation of six acres of agricultural land belonging to the latter’s brother, who is visually impaired. “A few days ago, Prakash brutally beat up his father to force him to transfer the land to his (Prakash’s) name. I had flashed the story, which is why Prakash, who has a criminal background, attempted to kill me,” alleged Khan.
SHO, Puranpur Kotwali police station, DP Singh told TOI that an FIR had been lodged against Arvind Prakash, his son Sudhir and two alleged accomplices Pyare Lal and Tinku under section 323 (causing hurt), 504 (insult to provoke breach of peace) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Sudhir and Pyare Lal have been arrested at the time of filing of this report.