The controversy surrounding the death of journalist K.M. Basheer reignited in the Kerala Legislative Assembly media room when Agriculture Department Director Sriram Venkitaraman appeared at an official press conference. Journalists objected to Sriram’s participation, as he is the first accused in the case related to Basheer’s death, and refused to continue the briefing with him seated next to the minister.
The protest escalated as journalists demanded the minister not share the platform with an accused person in a case involving the deceased journalist. They threatened to boycott the press conference unless Sriram left, leading to his eventual exit from the hall. The minister’s press conference resumed only after Sriram’s departure.
Basheer, a journalist with Siraj daily, was killed in a road accident near Thiruvananthapuram on August 3, 2019, sparking widespread outrage in Kerala. The incident, where Sriram’s car allegedly hit Basheer’s motorcycle from behind, raised concerns over police actions and accusations of protecting the accused. The delay in obtaining Sriram’s blood sample, despite suspicions of alcohol influence during the accident, stirred significant controversy.
The recent protest in the Assembly media room indicates persistent anger over the case years after Basheer’s death, with journalists opposing Sriram’s presence at official events.
