Karnataka: Cops transport journalist's dead body in garbage truck
What's the story
The dead body of a local journalist from Gadag district of Karnataka was shifted to a hospital in a garbage truck by the police on Sunday, triggering fury and anger amongst the media fraternity and his family. The 28-year-old journalist Mounesh Potharaj was killed in a road accident after his bike rammed into a tree. He was travelling to Haveri from Sirsi. Here's more.
The accident
The journalist died on the spot after the accident
Potharaj, the journalist was on his way towards his home at Chebbi village in Shirahatti taluk of Gadag, but died on the spot after the accident near Gunduru village in Hangal taluk. A case of accidental death has been registered at the Hangal police station. A video of his body being carried in a municipal garbage van has also gone viral.
Quote
The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from people
Ningappa Chavadi, president of Haveri district unit of Karnataka State Working Journalists Union said, "It's an inhumane act by police..they used a garbage van to transport the body to a hospital. We strongly condemn it and will hold a protest soon."
Police's version
No vehicle provided to us to shift bodies, say police
However, according to Karnataka police, no private vehicle was available to carry the body, as a result of which the body was carried in a municipal garbage van. Haveri SP K Parashuram said, "No vehicle is provided to us to shift bodies. Normally we get vehicles from local authorities, but this time we did not get any. We didn't intend to hurt anyone."