BIDAR, 16 April

Just ahead of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s scheduled visit to Bidar to inaugurate and lay the foundation for development works worth Rs 2,025 crore, an incident of assault on a journalist by forest officials has sparked outrage.

Ravi Bhusende, 34, District Reporter for Bidar Shakti Kannada Daily and resident of Chidri, was allegedly assaulted on Tuesday night by Forest Officer Dastagiri and seven to eight department staff while recording a late-night tree plantation drive on Chidri Road. The drive was reportedly organised hastily to impress the Chief Minister.

The plantation drive was ordered by District In-Charge Minister Eshwar Khandre. 

While filming the activity near Chidri Ring Road, Ravi was verbally abused, physically assaulted, and dragged into a private vehicle (KA-38/N-1403) despite identifying himself as a journalist. His phone was smashed, Rs 1,500 stolen, and he was allegedly issued life threats during the drive to the Forest Department office.

“At around 9.10pm, I went to collect news regarding the sudden tree plantation drive carried out by the Forest Department. While I was capturing visuals and photos of the activity, officials approached me and began verbally abusing me with obscene language, saying things like ‘You son of a *****, who are you to take photos here?’. I identified myself, saying ‘Sir, I am a journalist,’ but despite this, they continued to intimidate me,” said Ravi.

A complaint was lodged at the Bidar Gandhi Ganj Police Station. A case has been registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and relevant sections of the BNS-2023 for assault, intimidation, kidnapping, and misuse of power.

The Karnataka Working Journalists Association has strongly condemned the attack. District President DK Ganapathy announced a protest on 17 April. Chitaguppa Taluk Journalists’ Association President Naveen Ganji demanded the immediate suspension of Forest Officer Dastagiri and all involved.

The incident, caught on video, shows the official grabbing Ravi by the collar and assaulting him. The Forest Department’s sudden overnight plantation drive, after previously showing little interest, has raised questions about its intent.

is facing mounting pressure to take swift action against the accused officials.