BRS alleges ‘Congress goons’ attacked Telugu journalist; Hyderabad police dismiss political angle

“The women filed counter complaints and we are looking into the investigation,” added Reddy.

Also Read: BRS MLA Lasya Nanditha killed after SUV crashes into barrier on Hyderabad outskirts

Dismiss political angle

Newsline had published an article about the incident on their website alleging that the Congress could be behind the attack.

The article mentioned that Congress workers had made calls to Shankar and the office of Newsline threatened to kill him.

However, Reddy insisted that no political party was involved in the incident.

Since both parties were unfamiliar with each other, Shankar suggested that the women visit his office to discuss the car’s repair, intending no harm, said Reddy explaining the incident to South First.

However, the women became suspicious and contacted their family members who came to the spot, leading to a confrontation, he added.

Reddy further said that Shankar sustained no serious injuries and did not require hospitalisation.

The police have filed a case against the family of the women involved in hitting Shankar under sections 324 (Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means), 427 (Mischief causing damage), 504 (Intentionally insulting and provoking any person) read with 34 (Acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

There is no evidence to support claims of political party involvement in the assault on the journalist.

Also Read: Eyes on beating BRS in Telangana, BJP readies Vijay Sankalp Yatra

Opposition alleges Congress’s involvement

Meanwhile, Opposition BRS alleged and condemned the violence against journalists who are questioning the Congress government of Telangana.

MLAs KT Rama Rao and Harish Rao said that Shankar had been questioning the government over the issues faced by the public.

He has been questioning power cuts, farmers suffering due to no sanction of Rythu Bandhu, drinking water, auto drivers’ woes, and also why allegations were continuously raised by the Congress government on irrigation projects, so unidentified goons have sent the two women and deliberately attacked the journalist, said the Opposition MLAs.

They urged the police to take stringent action against the attack.

ఇందిరమ్మ రాజ్యంలో
ప్రజల పక్షాన ప్రశ్నిస్తే
నిజాలు నిర్భయంగా చెప్తే
బౌతిక దాడులు చేస్తారా…?

సీనియర్ జర్నలిస్టు శంకర్ పైన కాంగ్రెస్ గుండాల దాడి….

తెలంగాణలో మొదలైన ఎమర్జెన్సీ

మీడియాపై దాడి అంటే ప్రజాస్వామ్యం పైననే దాడి… తెలంగాణలో మొదలైన ఫ్యాక్షన్ దాడుల సంస్కృతి…

ఈ… pic.twitter.com/5GjmKEbOuA

— KTR (@KTRBRS) February 23, 2024

The videos and photos of Shankar being attacked were viral on social media

In one video he was seen asking: “Did they attack the camera, and have they broken all my equipment.”

In the FIR, accessed by South First, it mentioned that the incident happened at around 10.40 pm on 22 February. The complaint, filed by another journalist Dandiga Narasimha, said that two unknown ladies travelling on a Honda Activa hit Shankar’s car from behind.

Narsmiha and Shankar got out of the car and questioned them, and subsequently, unknown assailants started to attack Shankar, the complaint said.

It further said that more people arrived at the scene and attacked Shankar with bare hands and also weapons.

When one person named Siva tried to stop the quarrel, he was also assaulted by those men, the complaint claimed.

“When Shiva was trying to take a video recording of the incident, one of the assailants damaged his phone. Shankar’s two mobile phones are also missing since the quarrel began,” said Narasimha in the complaint.