Bhubaneswar: In an unfortunate incident, Doordarshan (DD) News cameraperson Achyutanand Sahu was killed in an attack by Left Wing Extremist (LWE) in Maoist-hit Dantewada in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday. Two security officers were also killed in the attack that took place in Aranpur village in Dantewada.
Union Minister Information and Broadcasting and Sports and Youth Affairs Rajyavardhan Rathore expressed deep grief and shock over the tragic death of Sahu.
He announced an ex-gratia relief to the next of the kin of Sahu. He said that Rs 10 lakh would be given as ex-gratia payment by Doordarshan and Rs 5 lakh would be given from Journalist Welfare Fund of Press Information Bureau (PIB).
Sahu, who was covering the pre-election campaign, was a resident of Ghusuramunda village in Loisingha in Bolangir district. He had married two years back. He was an ex-Army man.
Sahu was part of the Doordarshan team that had visited the Maoist-prone region for the ensuing Assembly election coverage there. The mishap occurred at around 11:20 am today when the team was heading towards Nilvaya village from Aranpur for pre Assembly election coverage of Chhattisgarh Legislative Assembly.
DD News had deployed a camera team for election coverage in Chatisgarh. The team included cameraman Achyutananda Sahu, reporter Dhiraj Kumar and light assistant Mormukt Sharma. The team came under attack by Maoists this forenoon near Dantewada.
“Deeply anguished and convey heartfelt condolences for the martyred Doordarshan cameraman from #Odisha Achyutanand Sahu and the police persons who were killed in an Maoist attack today in #Dantewada, Chhattisgarh; wish the bereaved courage to overcome the irreparable loss,” tweeted Odisha Chief Minister Patnaik.
