Rs 15 lakh ex-gratia for slain DD lensman's family

The Information and Broadcasting (I&B) Ministry on Tuesday announced a financial assistance of Rs 15 lakh to the next of kin of Doordarshan (DD) news cameraman Achyutanand Sahu, who was killed in a Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh.

I&B Minister Rajyavardhan Rathore condemned the killing of the public broadcaster's lensman and expressed “deep grief and shock”.

"These insurgents will not weaken our resolve. We will prevail," he said

Sahu, along with two policemen, was killed in the Maoist attack in Aranpur village in Dantewada.

“Rs 10 lakh would be given an ex-gratia payment by Doordarshan and Rs 5 lakh would be given from Journalist Welfare Fund of Press Information Bureau,” the I&B Ministry said in a statement.

Sahu along with two others from the DD News wing had gone to the extremism-hit area for pre-election coverage when the Maoists attacked a local police team, killing Sahu and two policemen, according to Chhattisgarh police.

“A senior officer of DD News is accompanying the family members of the deceased cameraman to Raipur for bringing back the body to Delhi,” an official said.

Security for media

The Editors Guild of India also expressed grief over the death of the cameraman and two policemen in the Maoist ambush and offered condolence to the bereaved family members of the deceased.

It also urged the law enforcement agencies in Chhattisgarh to provide “necessary security and protection” to media persons, “particularly when they are on election coverage.”

“Creating a safe environment for media professionals to discharge their duties will be critical for ensuring freedom of the press,” the Guild added.