Journalist's body taken in garbage truck, sparks outrage; Karnataka CM seeks report

TV journalist Mounish Pothraj, 28, was heading home to Shirahatti in Gadag when his bike crashed into a tree on Sunday.

Bengaluru: In yet another case highlighting the insensitive attitude of policemen, it has now come to light that the body of a TV journalist, who was killed in an accident, was transported in a garbage truck by cops on duty in Karnataka.  

According to ANI, Mounish Pothraj, 28 was heading home to Shirahatti in Gadag when his bike crashed into a tree on Sunday.

Hubli: Police carried body of a journalist in a garbage truck due to unavailability of vehicles; he died in a road accident yesterday #Karnataka pic.twitter.com/6xy6pE4sJB

— ANI (@ANI) January 15, 2018

Pothraj suffered fatal injuries and died immediately after the accident. A case was also registered at Hangal Police Station. 

Policemen later moved his body to the Hangal Government hospital in a municipal garbage truck due to ''unavailability of vehicles''.

It was also reported that when the body was brought to the hospital, the staff refused to touch it unless they were paid and wrapped it in a torn cloth.

The hospital took action only after journalists from Sirsi and Hangal threatened to stage a dharna.

Meanwhile, a video of the body being taken in a garbage truck was widely shared on the social media and it soon went viral.

The incident triggered widespread outrage and severe condemnation from the journalist's family and the media fraternity.

Haveri SP K Parashuram later said the police had tried to get a private vehicle to carry the body but nothing was available due to the festival rush.

Taking cognizance of the matter, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today sought a report as to why the journalist's body was transferred in a garbage truck by the local police.

I am pained to read this. I have asked ADGP & Commissioner of Traffic & Road Safety to get a report into this incidence from the IGP of the Northern range & take action. @tniekiran1 https://t.co/CyqfyyYFZs

— Siddaramaiah (@siddaramaiah) January 15, 2018

Taking to Twitter, Siddaramaiah said that he had asked the Additional Director General of Police (Northern Range) to probe the matter.

"I am pained to read this. I have asked ADGP & Commissioner of Traffic & Road Safety to get a report into this incidence from the IGP of the Northern range & take action," Siddaramaiah tweeted.

(With ANI inputs)