The Hindu 's Chhattisgarh correspondent, Aman Sethi, has won the International Committee of the Red Cross award for the best Indian print media article on humanitarian issues.
His article on three Chhattisgarh villages ruthlessly torched by police commandos in March 2011 was selected as the best of nearly 80 entries from across the country. About 300 homes and granaries were burnt in the five-day police operation which left three men dead, and three women sexually assaulted. Based on interviews with eyewitnesses and police sources, Mr. Sethi's coverage spurred the local administration to probe the incident and send aid to the affected villages.
At the ICRC awards presented on Wednesday at the India Islamic Cultural Centre here, Tehelka's Umar Baba took the second place, while the third prize went to Reji Joseph of Rashtra Deepika and the consolation prize to Anup Sharma of The Times of India .
While Mr. Sethi took home a cash award of Rs. 50,000, the second and third prize winners were given Rs.30,000 and Rs.20,000 respectively.
The function was preceded by a panel discussion on the theme “Media Reporting on the Fate of Victims of Armed Violence,” moderated by National Commission for Minorities chairman Wajahat Habibullah.
