Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 150
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Deprecated (16384): The ArrayAccess methods will be removed in 4.0.0.Use getParam(), getData() and getQuery() instead. - /home/brlfuser/public_html/src/Controller/ArtileDetailController.php, line: 151
 You can disable deprecation warnings by setting `Error.errorLevel` to `E_ALL & ~E_USER_DEPRECATED` in your config/app.php. [CORE/src/Core/functions.php, line 311]
Warning (512): Unable to emit headers. Headers sent in file=/home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php line=853 [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 48]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 148]
Warning (2): Cannot modify header information - headers already sent by (output started at /home/brlfuser/public_html/vendor/cakephp/cakephp/src/Error/Debugger.php:853) [CORE/src/Http/ResponseEmitter.php, line 181]
LATEST NEWS UPDATES | ‘The only journalist who cared’: Memory of scribe killed after refinery report lingers on in Maharashtra - Tanishka Sodhi

‘The only journalist who cared’: Memory of scribe killed after refinery report lingers on in Maharashtra - Tanishka Sodhi

Share this article Share this article
published Published on Feb 13, 2023   modified Modified on Feb 13, 2023

Shashikant Warishe was mowed down allegedly by the subject of his last report on a controversial refinery

- Newslaundry

“He was the only journalist who covered the refinery protests…From the time the protests began until now, he covered everything…other newspapers barely gave coverage to the issue. People here liked him a lot because he was the sole journalist who cared about their issues.” That’s how Dipak Joshi remembers his friend Shashikant Warishe, a journalist who was allegedly murdered by the subject of his last report – a land agent linked to a controversial refinery project in Maharashtra’s Ratnagiri.

The Mahanagri Times journalist’s death has triggered protests by the media fraternity in Maharashtra, and brought attention to the Ratnagiri Refinery and Petrochemicals project – which is to be set up in different parts of the Konkan region and has been facing protests by farmers and locals over the last two years. But had it not been for Warishe’s reportage, the agitation could have gone unnoticed. And many like Dipak Joshi, who is an activist part of the resistance against the refinery, unheard. For over two years, Warishe had been documenting farmers’ voices against the refinery: about concerns linked to livelihood and environment, the protesters’ letters to ministers, the lack of a response, and alleged corruption.

“He used to say that he would write what he would see; no matter who it was against. He was offered bribes to not write against the refinery but never accepted them,” said Amol Bole, president of the Barsu Solgaon Refinery Virodhi Sanghatana – an organisation protesting against the project. The journalist’s friends and acquaintances said that unlike many others, he never accepted bribes to drop the refinery reports. “He was a dashing reporter; never did a story without concrete evidence. He was associated with me for 10 years and was non-corrupt throughout,” said Sadashiv Kerkar, editor-in-chief of Mahanagari Times.

Pandharinath Amberkar, the man accused of murdering Warishe by crushing him under his car, has been arrested. But locals alleged that he has been in a hospital in Ratnagiri since his arrest owing to “chest pain”. He was initially booked for culpable homicide but the police pressed murder charges after local protests. Amberkar, who locals claim is a BJP worker, has a criminal record. Two years ago, he had allegedly tried to mow down a sarpanch’s son. More recently, he allegedly threw stones at anti-refinery protesters inside a court complex. An FIR was filed but no action was taken.

Please click here to read more


Tanishka Sodhi, Newslaundry, 11 February, 2023, https://www.newslaundry.com/2023/02/11/the-only-journalist-who-cared-memory-of-scribe-killed-after-refinery-report-lingers-on-in-maharashtra


Related Articles

 

Write Comments

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Video Archives

Archives

share on Facebook
Twitter
RSS
Feedback
Read Later

Contact Form

Please enter security code
      Close