Press Statement

NUJ (India) strongly condemn brutal killing of journalists in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh

26 Mar, 2018
The National Union of Journalists (India) joins its state unit NUJ(Bihar) and Journalists Union of Madhya Pradesh in strongly condemning the gruesome murder of frontline journalist Brajesh Kumar working for national daily newspaper in Bihar and Sandeep Sharma working for national news channel in Madhya Pradesh.
According to information Naveen Nishchal, 35, who was working with a Hindi newspaper and his friend Vijay Singh, 25, were riding a bike when they were crushed to death under the wheels of a Scorpio car allegedly driven by Ahmed Ali alias Harsu, the husband of the former mukhia (elected village head) of Garhani panchayat Sanzida Parveen in Aara-Sasaram District of Bihar. In an another incident in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh Sandeep Sharma, who was working with a national news channel had filed a story accusing a police officer of being hand in gloves with the sand mafias in Bhind district of Madhya Pradesh. Earlier Sharma while investigating illegal mining in Bhind filed a complaint against this police officer citing threat to his life and on Monday he was run over by a dumper under mysterious circumstances.
In a statement NUJ(I) President Prajanananda Chaudhuri said that security of journalists in entire country and particularly in Bihar and Madya Pradesh is a matter of concern. Brutal killing of journalists in Bihar and Madhya Pradesh clearly shows the state of affairs in those States. It is an attempt to stall fearless coverage of anti-national and anti-people activities. NUJ(I) strongly criticize this barbaric act and demand the State governments to nab the culprits at the earliest. We also demand to look into the security of the mediapersons, while covering different events in the country.” said NUJ(I) in the statement.
NUJ(I) Secretary General Sheo Kumar Agarwal condemned the killing of journalist and termed it as failure of the administration to grant protection to the media persons. The NUJ(I) reiterated its demand for a Journalists Protection Act to ensure safety and end impunity to criminals for attacking journalists and demand adequate compensation to the murdered journalist and appeal to the State governments to ensure that such incidents should not occur in future.

Written By

National Union of Journalists (India) National Union of Journalists (India)

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