PULIVENDULA, India — India Today journalist Abdul Basheer and video journalist S Vijay were assaulted by a mob while covering local body elections in Andhra Pradesh's Pulivendula on Sunday, the news organization said. Their video camera was smashed and mobile phones were snatched.
The attack occurred as the journalists were stationed near a polling booth. NTV reporter Suresh and other media personnel were also injured in clashes during the polling day. Sakshi TV Executive Editor Ismail was attacked with stones during voting.
The incident triggered a war of words between the ruling Telugu Desam Party and the YSR Congress Party. The TDP accused the YSRCP of deliberately targeting the India Today team to discredit the coalition government, sharing video of Basheer pacifying the terrified cameraman. The YSRCP rejected the allegations, sharing video of Basheer and injured journalists meeting former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, and accused the TDP of supplying sticks and knives to prevent polling agents from entering booths.
Former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy condemned the attacks, stating that journalists must be allowed to perform their duties freely in a democracy. He met the injured media personnel and called for an impartial investigation with strict legal action against those responsible, adding that the government and police were responsible for ensuring adequate security for media covering elections.
The India Today team had travelled from Hyderabad to Pulivendula on Saturday to report on the polling. As of Sunday evening, no police complaint had been publicly confirmed, and the extent of injuries sustained by the journalists was not immediately disclosed.
