Two held over MP journalist's death

Two people were arrested for the death of a journalist who was kidnapped in Madhya Pradesh's Balaghat district and burnt alive.

Police recovered the body of Sandeep Kothari (28) from a railway track near a jungle in neighbouring Maharashtra's Wardha district and suspect it to be a case of personal rivalry. Kothari used to write about the suspected activities of some people linked to illegal chit fund and mining.

According to police, Kothari was abducted on Friday by some hoodlums when he was going on a motorbike with a friend. Leaving his friend brutally beaten, they took away Kothari with them.

D.C. Sagar, a senior police official from Balaghat, told IANS on Monday that a hunt for Kothari's kidnappers was launched soon after they were informed. Two suspects -- Vishal Tandi and Brajesh Daharwal -- who were arrested revealed the journalist was burnt to death. Their third accomplice was missing, the officer said.

Police have announced Rs.30,000 reward for the arrest of the third accused who is on the run, he added.

Terming killing of the journalist as "barbaric", the opposition Congress on Monday set up its own three-member committee led by legislator Madhu Bhagat. It will submit its report to opposition leader Satyadev Katare within a week.