India Today journalist attacked while covering Andhra polls, video camera smashed

India Today Group Associate Editor Abdul Basheer, who covers Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and video journalist S Vijay had travelled from Hyderabad to Pulivendula in YSR Kadapa district on Saturday to report on the polling.

An India Today journalist and a video journalist were allegedly assaulted by a mob while covering the local body elections in Andhra Pradesh's Pulivendula on Sunday, with their video camera smashed and mobile phones snatched. The incident triggered a war of words between the ruling TDP and the Opposition YSRCP, with both sides accusing each other of orchestrating the attack.

India Today Group Associate Editor Abdul Basheer, who covers Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and video journalist S Vijay had travelled from Hyderabad to Pulivendula in YSR Kadapa district on Saturday to report on the polling. They were stationed near a polling booth when unidentified individuals allegedly confronted the crew and attacked them.

NTV reporter Suresh and other media personnel were also injured in the clashes, sources said. Sakshi TV Executive Editor Ismail was allegedly attacked with stones during polling. The video camera belonging to the India Today crew was smashed, while journalists' mobile phones were snatched.

TDP SLAMS YSRCP OF PLOTTING ATTACK

The TDP shared a video on social media showing Basheer pacifying a visibly terrified cameraman following the incident. The footage captures the tense moments after the alleged assault, with Basheer trying to calm his colleague.

Accusing the YSRCP of deliberately targeting the India Today team, the TDP alleged that the attack was part of a conspiracy to discredit the coalition government at the national level.

"The plot hatched by YS Jagan to discredit the coalition government at the national level has been exposed. YSRCP rowdies, who had invited the India Today team to cover the conduct of local elections in AP, deliberately attacked them and smashed their camera," the party said in a post on X, directly targeting former chief minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.

"What a criminal brain, Jagan!" it added.

YSRCP SHOWS VIDEO OF JOURNALISTS MEETING JAGAN, HITS BACK

The YSRCP rejected the TDP's allegations and accused it of running a smear campaign against the Opposition party. It shared another video showing Basheer and other injured journalists meeting Jagan after the incident.

In its post, the YSRCP asked the TDP to listen to the accounts of the journalists themselves rather than continue accusing the party.

"India Today staff met former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy just a short while ago and described the attack that happened to them. When the victims themselves are airing their side, who do you think you're trying to convince by still levelling accusations against the YSR Congress Party?" the party said.

The party also turned the allegations around, accusing the TDP of supplying sticks and knives in Pulivendula and attacking people to prevent agents from entering polling booths. It further alleged that voters had been obstructed and their voting rights trampled upon.

"Without answering for the atrocities that happened during your rule, how long will you keep hiding behind lies? It's just your illusion to think that destroying cameras will make the truth disappear," the YSRCP said.

Jagan met the injured media personnel, including Basheer, Vijay and NTV reporter Suresh, and enquired about their health. He strongly condemned the attacks, saying journalists must be allowed to perform their duties freely in a democracy.

The former Chief Minister said the government and police were responsible for ensuring adequate security for media personnel covering elections. He also demanded an impartial investigation into the attacks and strict legal action against those responsible.