The South Asian Women in Media (SAWM), a regional association of women journalists, expresses shock and anguish at the murder of journalist Sashikant Warishe of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra.
Warishe, who wrote for the Marathi daily Mahanagri, had reported extensively on protests by residents of the Barsu locality against a petroleum refinery to be constructed in the area.
48-year-old Warishe was mowed down by an SUV allegedly driven by Pandarinath Amberkar, who is allegedly a land dealer with interests in the area where the refinery is scheduled to be built.
The violent end of Mr Warishe is the latest in a long list of those of journalists killed for exposing illegal activities of criminals, who often have political connections.
SAWM condemns Mr Warishe’s killing and urges stringent action against those involved in his murder, as per the law of the land.
SAWM condemns all such attempts by individuals and organisations to intimidate journalists in their efforts to do their job. We demand a climate of safety and security for journalists across the country.
We offer our deepest condolences to Mr Warishe’s family.