Madhya Pradesh: 3 journalists booked for news report on man being taken to hospital on a handcart

According to collector Sathish Kumar, the probe was ordered to flag deficiencies to 108 operator for improvement of service but no records of any such calls being missed was found with the operator. Following this a team of six to seven officials from the block administration got in touch with Hari Singh for a statement.

“The victim told the officials that he did not make any calls to 108 and had taken his father to a nearby clinic when he was visited by the three reporters, they took down details and left. The victim also told the team that he did not call for any ambulance,” Kumar told The Indian Express.

Following this an FIR was registered against the three journalists on August 18.

Sathish Kumar further added that it is during this probe that the family mentioned that they are getting some benefits of government scheme. “For the schemes that they are not being given, necessary arrangements will be made,” added Sathish Kumar.

One of the journalist, Anil Sharma in a video statement refuted claims of district administration and said, “The FIR was filed on false grounds. The district administration pressurised Hari Singh’s family by threatening to stop all benefits of government scheme given to them.”

In a letter to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Dr. Govind Singh, leader of opposition accused the district administration on pressuring Hari Singh’s family and trying to suppress the journalist by registering an FIR. “We stand with the journalist and will fight for them,” Singh said in the media.

A deligation of Bhind journalist have also planned to meet the collector to demand the FIR be squashed.

“A deligation was to meet, after meeting with them we’ll issue a detailed statement. Since the victim is constantly changing his statements. We’ll see where the probes lead,” added Sathish Kumar.