Scribe killed by suspected Maoists in south Chhattisgarh

Prominent journalist of Bijapur, Sai Reddy (51) was killed by unidentified assailants, while he was visiting his native village, Basaguda on Friday. Around mid-day, while Mr. Reddy was visiting the local market, a group of men armed with axe and machete attacked him. Severely injured, Mr. Reddy was rushed to the Bijapur district hospital, but he died on the way.

“We can confirm if Mr. Reddy has been killed by the Maoists or some other group only after investigation. Prima facie, it seems, the Maoists killed him,” Superintendent of Police (SP), Prashant Agrawal told The Hindu . The journalist union of Chhattisgarh, Shramjibi Patrakar Sangh, condemned the killing.

Mr. Reddy was one of the most prolific district correspondents of the distinguished Hindi daily of central India,

Deshbandhu . “He used to file almost on every alternate day and had an outstanding command over his subjects,” said Chief Editor Lalit Surjan.

“He perhaps had some problem with the language but his understanding of developmental issues was commendable. Relentlessly he filed on health, education, water supply, food distribution or corruption and like a true journalist he almost always wrote against the government,” Mr. Surjan said.

It would be difficult to replace him, he regretted.

Mr. Reddy’s unflinching commitment to work, perhaps, finally cost him his life, his colleagues feel.