An organisation of journalists demanded that the state government must hand over the probe into local scribe Sandeep Kothari's murder to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Press Freedom Forum – a body of eminent journalists in MP – made this demand on Wednesday during a meeting held to condole the death of Kothari, a <g data-gr-id="20">Katangi</g> tehsil based journalist, who was allegedly burnt to death allegedly by three persons suspected to be linked to sand mafia.
Deploring the incident, members of the Forum have decided to build pressure on the state government and seek financial help for Kothari's family and also to bring a Bill in the Assembly for the protection of journalists.
Expressing reservations over police investigation in the case, secretary of the Forum Pawan <g data-gr-id="18">Deolia</g> said: "The police are trying to portray the deceased journalist as a criminal since day one. His burnt body was found near railway tracks in Wardha, Maharashtra on June 20, a day after he was kidnapped from <g data-gr-id="19">Katangi</g> tehsil."
<g data-gr-id="16">Deolia</g> also sought Balaghat Collector V Kiran Gopal's transfer from the district "as he spoke ill of <g data-gr-id="13">Kothari",</g> when the journalists went to petition him following his murder.