Unidentified men attack journalist with knives, sticks in Andhra's Ongole

Police have registered a case based on the journalist Nagarjuna Reddy’s statement.

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Unidentified assailants on Monday attacked a journalist with knives and sticks in Ongole district of Andhra Pradesh. He is presently undergoing treatment at a hospital in Chirala.

The incident reportedly took place at Chinaganjam, while the victim M Nagarjuna Reddy, was returning to Chirala from Ongole on Monday night after meeting with police officials at the district superintendent of police’s (SP) office.

Nagarjuna, a scribe working for a vernacular daily at Vetapalem town, was attacked from behind in Kundooru village near Chinnaganjam between 6.30 pm and 7.00 pm when he was returning home from Ongole on a two-wheeler. Locals who found him near Kothapet KSR handlooms with injuries, shifted him to Chirala government hospital, and he was later taken to a private hospital in the town.

Police have registered a case based on Nagarjuna Reddy’s statement. Reports suggest that he had gone to district SP office with regard to the case of a social boycott in Ramchandrapuram of Vetapalem mandal.

Earlier in 2017, then TDP MLA Amanchi Krishna Mohan's brother, Amanchi Swamulu, and other aides chased down and thrashed Nagarjuna in full public view on the streets of Chirala for reportedly writing about the illegal sand mining by Amanchi.

Earlier this year, Nagarjuna Reddy had complained to district police officers seeking protection, claiming he has facing death threats from the former MLA Amanchi Krishna.

Amanchi Krishna Mohan, who shifted from TDP to YSRCP before the assembly elections, had lost to TDP’s Karanam Balaram. It is said that with YSRCP coming to power, Amanchi is taking revenge on Nagarjuna Reddy.

Chirala rural Police Inspector confirmed the incident and said that a case has been registered with regard to the attack on Nagarjuna at Inkollu police station. Meanwhile, Inkollu inspector failed to respond despite multiple attempts to contact him.

Condemning the attack, former Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) President N Chandrababu Naidu said, "If anyone exposes the corrupt practices of YSRCP, there is a situation prevailing where they may lose their lives."

"Attack on Nagarjuna Reddy is brutal. Will they attack anyone who exposes the corrupt practices? If he was really attacked while coming back after giving a representation to the SP, what are the police doing?" he asked.