A photojournalist was allegedly severely beaten up by Congress workers in Betul on Thursday. Gyandev Lokhande, the photojournalist, was admitted to the district hospital in unconscious state, police said.
The alleged incident took place in the presence of Congress MLA from Tiwsa in Maharashtra, Yashomati Thakur, who had come to Betul as observer for short-listing of Congress candidates for the five Assembly seats in the district. Lokhande, who was at the Congress meeting at Jain Dadawadi for coverage, was thrashed by some party workers following a spat over taking pictures, police said.
Other journalists took him to hospital where doctors said he had not suffered any serious injury, but he will be kept under observation for the next 24 hours. Local journalists submitted a memorandum to the Superintendent of Police Lalit Shakyavar demanding strict action.
Police have registered a case under section 307 (attempt to murder) against Chent, Ajju alias Ravan and Siraj. They are absconding. Former BJP MP Hemant Khandelwal as well as several Congress leaders visited the hospital.