Published Aug 22, 2024 | 2:44 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 22, 2024 | 6:38 PM
Women journalists attacked in Telangana. (X)
Two women journalists— Avula Saritha and Vijaya Reddy— were assaulted allegedly by Congress workers in Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy’s native village Kongareddypalli, in Mahbubnagar.
Saritha, who is associated with a Telugu digital media platform Telugu Scribe, was in the village, along with another journalist Vijaya Reddy, associated with the YouTube channel MirrorTV to report on the implementation of the farm loan waiver, a contentious issue in Telangana.
The attackers allegedly hurled abuses, snatched their phones and cameras, and physically assaulted them.
Telugu Scribe said that the journalists known for their critical coverage of Revanth Reddy’s administration, were specifically targeted by the chief minister’s followers, who disregarded their status as women and physically assaulted them.
The organisation further claimed the attack was the first physical attack on female journalists in the ten-year history of Telangana and the sixty-year history of united Andhra Pradesh.
Saritha said that she was chased by Congress workers and had to go to the police station for her security.
“Requesting assistance from the Telangana police to ensure my safe arrival at home in Hyderabad. Over a dozen vehicles are chasing me, and I need to reach the nearest police station to protect my life. Congress workers even tried to assault me at the police station,” she said.
Saritha speaking of the attack on X said, “Our camera was smashed, phones were snatched and we were pushed into mud.”
Congress workers in CM Revanth Reddy’s hometown Kondareddypalle physically assaulted me and fellow journalist Vijaya Reddy while we were reporting on the implementation of the farm loan waiver. Our camera was smashed, phones were snached and we were pushed into mud.
I urge Mr.… https://t.co/8VaftQM3t6
— Sarita Avula (@SaritaAvula) August 22, 2024
The Telugu Scribe said that some of the assailants also snatched cameras from the cameramen and took away the digital storage cards, preventing the journalists from capturing the views of the locals. The team was prevented from leaving the location.
A photograph of one of the alleged attackers with the chief minister went viral on social media, identifying him as a close aide of Revanth Reddy’s brother, Tirupathi Reddy.
Addressing the assault, BRS leader KTR questioned Chief Minister Revanth, “Why were these women journalists assaulted? Did they abuse you, CM Revanth? Did they use abusive language like you? All they did was report on the farm loan waiver in Kongareddypalli. Congress goondas attacked them, and despite being women, they were physically assaulted.”
He further challenged the chief minister, asking why he was afraid if the loan waiver had indeed been implemented.
రైతు రుణమాఫీ అసలు వాస్తవాలను ప్రజలకు చూపించేందుకు సీఎం సొంత ఊరు కొండారెడ్డిపల్లికి వెళ్లిన మహిళా జర్నలిస్టులు సరితా, విజయారెడ్డిపై సీఎం అనుచరులు దాడి చేయడం దారుణం
ఇందిరమ్మ పాలనగా ఫోజులు కొట్టే ఈ కాంగ్రెస్ పాలనలో మహిళా జర్నలిస్టులకే రక్షణ లేకపోతే ఎలా ? రుణమాఫీ సరిగా జరిగి…
— KTR (@KTRBRS) August 22, 2024
Former Health Minister and Siddipet MLA Harish Rao also condemned the attack.
I strongly condemn the attack on journalists @SaritaAvula Garu and Vijaya Reddy Garu by @TelanganaCMO Revanth Reddy’s followers in Kondareddypalli. Such incidents under Congress rule reveal the growing suppression of democracy and silencing of dissent. The rising assaults on… https://t.co/105aLp8Tpl
— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) August 22, 2024
The assault has sparked outrage among journalists, who have lodged a complaint with DGP Jitender and are planning to approach the Telangana State Women’s Commission, demanding action against the perpetrators.
Many journalists, especially women journalists have condemned the incident.
Horrible! https://t.co/Ley5pcldei
— Vasudha Venugopal (@Vasudha156) August 22, 2024
Shameful incident of targeting reporters & video journalists, stopping them from doing their job https://t.co/CVKvjeKyQB
— Swastika Das (@swastikadas95) August 22, 2024
Independent journalists Revathi, called the attack extremely uncalled for and said, the violence was the reason for less women journalists.
Condemn the attack on the two female journalists in CM Revanth Reddy’s own village Kondareddypally. #Telangana
This is extremely uncalled for.
Manhandling of any journalist is not acceptable. The reason why we have less and less female journalists on the field is because of…
— Revathi (@revathitweets) August 22, 2024
Over the past few months, journalists in Telangana have faced a series of attacks while performing their duties. On 10 July, a reporter from Zee Telugu was stopped and dragged by police at Osmania University during a coverage assignment.
A week earlier, a TV9 journalist was similarly prevented from reporting by police officials. In a distressing incident at Balkampet temple, a female reporter from 10TV was manhandled by the police.
Despite informing the officers of her pregnancy and pleading not to be pushed, she was allegedly told to prove her pregnancy. Additionally, a case was registered against senior journalist Revathi for tweeting about a power outage.
(Edited by Sumavarsha Kandula with inputs from Sumit Jha.)
