Five persons were arrested for allegedly threatening a local journalist from Bhiwandi here, police said today.
Scribe Siddharth Kamble, who works with a national news channel, in his complaint alleged that a group of unidentified persons on Sunday night threatened him of dire consequences outisde his house, an official of Kongaon police station said.
According to Kamble's complaint, the incident happened after he did stories for his channel exposing illegal activities of land mafias in the city, and hence, they decided to threaten him.
A group of people carrying bamboo sticks went to Kamble house at around 10.30 PM and dared him to come out and intimidate him, the officer said.
"The miscreants also tried to break the main door but could not do so. They had smashed the CCTV camera installed outside Kamble's house," he said.
Five persons, including two women, were arrested yesterday in connection with the incident and a case was lodged against them under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly), 427 (mischief causing damage), 506-2 (criminal intimidation) and other relevant sections of the IPC and Atrocities Act.
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Vice President Hamid Ansari also condoled Nikam's death saying he was a valued and respected member of Rajya Sabha Television.
Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venakaiah Naidu said he was saddened at the death of Nikam who had made great contribution to the profession of journalism.
He also visited the RML hospital, where 59-year-old Nikam had breathed his last.
Rajya Sabha TV CEO Gurdeep Singh Sappal said his passing away was a huge loss for RSTV.
"Girish was a voice of sobriety and compassion in the debates he conducted," he said.
A release by RSTV said Nikam anchored 'The Big Picture' programme ever since its inception.
His "understated style and rich content stood apart in the cacophony of prime time TV discussions", it said.
