Do you expect 'national' news channels especially the one like Aajtak that claim to be the Numero Uno in this country to be so careless about facts and make a mockery of all basics of journalism.
The leader of the most wanted dacoit gang in India Dayaram was injured in an encounter with police in Chambal region of Madhya Pradesh and I happened to see the special programme 'Aaj Tak Vishesh' that was focused on this gang.
In the 'exclusive' report it was again and again mentioned that Dayaram Gadaria had killed SAIKDON (HUNDREDS) of innocents in his years in Chambal. The fact is that the entire Gadaria gang has no less than 30 murders in its CV to boast of.
Of which, a majority including the 13 victims of Bhanwarpura massacre was at the behest of the second leader Rambabu. Even if the figure of 30 is attributed to Dayaram, the use of word 'HUNDREDS' suggests at least 200 or 300. So TEN TIMES the figure was blown up! How can they dare to air such wild figures? Frankly it is because they don't give a damn to accountability or facts.
It is no newspaper and so you are not bound to publish rejoinders (in newspaper offices, readers and officials of department concerned come with the cutting and demand explanation). Also, the channels don't have the beat system in the exact sense and thus guy in Gwalior may be just a low-paid stringer who has to look after politics, art, culture, crime, society and what not. Naturally he is too busy to specialise on any thing and picks up hearsay. Where in the world will we get such imbalanced coverage and so many bloomers except India!
