Maharashtra journalist ‘killed’ after article on ‘criminal backing petroleum refinery’

Hours after a journalist was hit by a car allegedly driven by a land dealer he wrote against, several media organisations have demanded a probe into the incident in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri district.

Shashikant Warishe, who worked for Marathi daily Mahanagari Times, succumbed to injuries at a hospital on Tuesday after his two-wheeler was hit by a vehicle driven by Pandharinath Amberkar. 

The journalist is survived by his mother, wife and 19-year-old son.

Warishe had been writing about a petroleum refinery in Barsu which is facing local resistance. According to the Indian Express, Amberkar is alleged to be a supporter of the refinery and has a case against him for allegedly threatening those opposed to the refinery. Based on the claims of farmers protesting against the refinery, the journalist had written a piece alleging that Amberkar, a criminal, was seen in a photograph next to the prime minister and chief minister.

Amberkar has been arrested after the incident.

Meanwhile, several media organisations have demanded a probe into the incident. Kiran Naik of the Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Patrakar Parishad met Maharashtra Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis and demanded an investigation. Mumbai Marathi Patrakar Sangh and Mantralaya and Vidhimandal Vartahar Sangh also condemned the “murder”.