In a troubling incident in Patan, a journalist faced an attack while covering a suspicious ghee case in the local ghee market. Bharat Prajapati, a reporter for VTV News, was assaulted by several traders who allegedly demanded money to stop his coverage of the situation. This incident has sparked outrage among journalists in Patan and the surrounding district, leading to calls for strict action against the attackers.
The attack occurred on Wednesday when Prajapati went to report on concerns about the quality of ghee being sold in the market. Reports suggest that traders were involved in producing fake ghee, which poses a serious health risk to consumers. Following the attack, Prajapati was taken to Dhaharpur Hospital by his fellow journalists using an ambulance.
The Patan journalist community has condemned the incident, demanding accountability and protection for reporters. In response to the attack, Prajapati filed a police complaint against the traders involved. This event highlights the dangers faced by journalists in Gujarat, particularly when reporting on sensitive issues like food safety.
Jayeshbhai Patel, a prominent citizen of Patan, voiced his support for the journalist community. He pointed out that while the traders were allegedly producing low-quality ghee, local food safety officials seemed to be more focused on collecting bribes than taking strong action against them. This observation raises concerns about corruption in the food safety department and the protection of public health.
The Patan ghee market has been under scrutiny following recent police actions that seized suspicious batches of ghee and oil. According to reports, the Patan SOG police and food department conducted an unexpected inspection at a local ghee producer’s facility. They discovered a large quantity of questionable ghee and oil, leading to the seizure of over 1,000 kilograms of ghee valued at about 635,400 rupees.
Officials collected samples from various brands of ghee during this operation. They have promised to continue monitoring and conducting raids to ensure food safety in the area. Over the past year, the Gujarat Food and Drugs Department has taken significant action against food safety violations, conducting over 265 raids and destroying more than 362 tons of unsafe products.
Despite these efforts, the attack on Prajapati shows that there is still a long way to go in protecting journalists and ensuring accountability in the food industry. The Patan media community is calling for a thorough investigation into the incident and for the food safety officials to take their responsibilities seriously.
This unfortunate event raises awareness about the challenges faced by journalists in their pursuit of truth and safety. As they continue to report on issues affecting public health, it is crucial that they receive the support and protection they need to do their jobs effectively.
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