Chauhan, a journalist affiliated with online media outlet Fast News India, was fatally shot on the evening of May 18 near his residence in Luhari village, in Haryana’s Jhajjar district. He sustained a gunshot wound to the head and was rushed to Ganesh Ji Hospital in Gurugram, where he succumbedto his injuries later that night.

According to initial reports from local authorities, Chauhan had left for a routine walk after dinner when unidentified assailants opened fireon him and fled the scene. Nearby residents discovered Chauhan critically injured and lying in a pool of blood after hearing gunfire. He was first taken to a hospital in Pataudi before being transferred to Ganesh Ji Hospital for more advanced treatment.

Police and forensic teams responded promptly to the scene and an investigation has been launched, with both the identities of the perpetrators and the motive for the killing remaining unknown as of May 20. Media organisations, unions, and press freedom groups, including the IJU and NUJ-I, have called on the Haryana state government to act without delay to bring the perpetrators to justice and take concrete steps to protect media workers from further violence.

Chauhan is the third journalist to be killed in India in 2025, according to IFJ monitoring. His killing follows the murders of Mukesh Chandrakar on January 1, who was brutally beaten to death with metal rods and his body discarded in a septic tank, and Raghvendra Bajpai, who was fatally shot on March 8 while travelling on a motorcycle. Both killings were allegedly related to the journalists’ investigative reporting on construction and land sales issues.

The IFJ’s South Asia Press Freedom Report 2024-25, which documents media rights violations in the region from May 1, 2024, to April 30, 2025, recorded 13 targeted attacks against journalists in India, amidst demands across the industry for a Journalist Protection Act to provide greater safeguards for working journalists and ensure accountability. The IFJ has continually called for all states to adopt the IFJ-led International Convention on the Safety and Independence of Journalists and Other Media Professionals aimed at providing greater protection for media workers and journalism in the face of escalating violence and threats.

The IJU said:“The murder of Dharmendra Singh Chauhan is a chilling attack on journalism and democracy. We demand that the authorities act swiftly to uncover the motive behind this crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. Such acts of violence cannot be tolerated in a democratic society. This tragic loss underscores the growing dangers faced by journalists in India. We urge the Haryana government to conduct an immediate, transparent, and thorough investigation to ensure justice for Dharmendra’s family and to send a clear message that attacks on journalists will not go unpunished.”

The NUJ-I said:“NUJI strongly condemns the recent killing of journalist Dharmendra Singh Chauhan, urging for a high-level enquiry into the incident that is a blatant attack on press freedom and the right to information. Such acts of violence against journalists cannot be tolerated and strict action must be taken to ensure their safety and protection. Financial compensation must also be provided to the family of the victim as a gesture of support and solidarity. NUJI stands in solidarity with all journalists in India and will continue to fight for their rights and safety in the face of such tragic incidents.”

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “The IFJ strongly condemns the killing of journalist Dharmendra Singh Chauhan. Both local and national authorities must take decisive action to protect the safety and security of journalists in India, ensuring that the perpetrators are held fully accountable and not allowed to act with impunity.”