Editor-in-Chief of 'Deshonnati' newspaper Prakash Pohare booked for murder of security supervisor

In a firing incident at the newspaper’s printing unit at Gondkhairi, 19 kms from Nagpur, security supervisor of ‘Deshonnati’ press was killed on Saturday evening. According to police, a security guard fired at the supervisor. Following the incident, as a matter of precaution, cops deployed bandobast at ‘Deshonnati’ group offices.

Identified as Rajendra Krishnarao Dupare (47), a resident of Sonba Nagar, the deceased was working as Security Supervisor at ‘Deshonnati’ press. Dupare is survived by wife and three children. The employees of Marathi daily ‘Deshonnati’ were on strike since August 6. On Saturday evening, around 50 members of Deshonnati Karmachari Sanghatana including four security guards gathered at the main gate of the newspaper’s printing unit at Gondkhairi on Amravati Road. Editor-in-Chief of ‘Deshonnati’ Prakash Pohare reached the printing unit along with 10 persons including five security guards around 5.30 pm. As soon as Pohare reached the spot, the cops said, employees there started raising slogans against him.

There was a brief talk that developed into an altercation between the employees and Pohare. Dupare also was talking to Pohare. According to an eye-witness Ganesh Devidas Fangud, both were maintaining a distance while talking to each other. Suddenly, a security guard who had arrived with Pohare, fired a bullet with his 12 bore rifle on floor near feet of Dupare. Reacting to this, the employees started raising pitch through sloganeering. According to cops, in the melee, a security guard Harekrishna Rampyare Dwiwedi who had come with Pohare, fired a bullet at Dupare.

Receiving stomach injuries, Dupare collapsed on ground. Immediately, the employees rushed to him. Meanwhile, Pohare and others left the spot in his car. The employees, however, caught Dwiwedi and bashed him. Dupare was rushed to Government Medical College Hospital (GMCH), where doctors declared him brought dead. Staff from Kalmeshwar Police Station rushed to the spot and took Dwiwedi, a resident of Nagpur, into custody.

Superintendent of Police Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma told ‘The Hitavada’ that cops were conducting investigations after which offence would be registered. The arrested guard is attached with CIFB Security Agency. According to Sharma, he was in an inebriated condition. As per the guard’s statement, he had license for rifle, Sharma added.

The incident created panic among ‘Deshonnati’ employees and heavy mob gathered at GMCH. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone IV) Chandrakishore Meena said that cops had deployed bandobast at ‘Deshonnati’ group offices, press and GMCH to avoid any unlawful incident.

Guard fired in self-defence: Pohare 

Accusing the employees of creating ruckus at the printing press and attacking himself and additional security guards, Editor-in-Chief of ‘Deshonnati’ and Director of Nishant Satellite Communication Network Limited (NSCN) Prakash Pohare said that the guard had fired in self-defence. Around 5 pm on October 13, Pohare said that he went to the printing unit to deploy additional security guards. While he was issuing instructions to security guards, he claimed, 20-25 of the relieved employees gheraoed him and security guards and pelted stones at them. “They tried to attack me also. An armed guard, who is a retired employee of BSF, was attacked. As a result, he fired in self-defence in which a man was injured. I informed Superintendent of Police Manoj Kumar Sharma about the incident,” Pohare stated. He gave the statement to Kalmeshwar Police Station in-charge.

Arrest Pohare, demands NUWJ 

Nagpur Union of Working Journalists (NUWJ) condemned the incident and demanded that ‘Deshonnati’ group chief Prakash Pohare to be arrested on charge of murder. NUWJ President Shirish Borkar, General Secretary Brahmashankar Tripathi, President of Tilak Patrakar Bhavan Trust Pradip Maitra, Vishwas Indurkar of Maharashtra Union of Working Journalists, and NUWJ executive also demanded suspension of Kalmeshwar Police Station in-charge for helping out Pohare despite prior intimation by Deshonnati Karmachari Sanghatana. NUWJ urged Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and Home Minister R R Patil to order CID probe into the incident and take stringent action against the guilty. Besides, the union demanded ex-gratia of Rs 15 lakh to be given to kin of deceased Rajendra Dupare. NUWJ demanded high-level enquiry by Special Inspector General of Police (Nagpur Range) Rajendra Singh and Superintendent of Police (Nagpur Rural) Dr Manoj Kumar Sharma.