KTR, Harish Rao condemn arrest of journalist, demand for immediate release

Journalist P Gowtham Goud was arrested for shooting and uploading the video of an angry farmer in March this year.

Hyderabad: ‘Telugu Scribe’ digital media journalist P Gowtham Goud was arrested by the Telangana Cybercrime police at the Bengaluru airport on Tuesday. The airport authorities stopped him from boarding a flight and informed the Telangana State police, after which a Hyderabad Cybercrime police team took custody of him and brought him to Hyderabad by road.

Over the last couple of weeks, multiple cases were filed against Goud at police stations in Manchal, Karkhana, Vanasthalipuram and other places, accusing him of insulting Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and the State government with derogatory remarks, to create political tensions and enmity between groups and to promote disharmony in the society. The police also issued a lookout notice for him, after which he was arrested.

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Responding to the arrest, BRS working president KT Rama Rao found fault with the State police, asking what was criminal about shooting and uploading the video of an angry farmer in March this year. He asked DGP Jitender to explain what was wrong with the video that a case had to be filed against Goud. The video shared by Goud was related to a farmer Mallayya from Mushampalli village in Nalgonda district who explained his woes after the BRS goverment was defeated in the Assembly elections. Mallayya had said that in the absence of former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, farmers in the State were struggling due to lack of water, electricity, Rythu Bandhu farm investment and other support systems.

Taking to X, Rama Rao said he too had visited the farmer in his native village to enquire about his situation and asked whether a case would be filed against him as well. He demanded for immediate release of Goud.

What exactly is wrong with this video @TelanganaDGP that a case was filed on journalist Gowtham Goud?

I’ve even visited this farmer Mallaiah Garu in his native village to enquire about his situation

Will you file a case on me? https://t.co/zcCF9fapPC

— KTR (@KTRBRS) October 8, 2024

Former Minister and senior BRS MLA T Harish Rao also condemned the arrest of Goud, terming it illegal and demanded for his immediate release. He asked what kind of democracy was prevailing in the State, where reporting the concerns and suffering of the people led to false cases.

“The unjust arrest of journalists is becoming alarmingly common in Telangana. I appeal to all intellectuals in Telangana to watch this video. Is there anything illegal, abusive, or obscene in it?” he asked.

Telugu Scribe Journalist Gowtham was illegally arrested today by the Revanth government for sharing a farmer’s video.

What kind of democracy is this, where reporting the concerns and suffering of the people leads to false cases?

I appeal to all intellectuals in Telangana to… https://t.co/yeT6Hgrm8a

— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) October 8, 2024