Journalist and Right To Information activist Raghvendra Bajpai was killed in a targeted attack on March 8 while travelling near Sitapur on March 8. Credit: X

Raghvendra Bajpai was fatally shot on March 8 at approximately 3:15pm, shortly after receiving a phone call and travelling on the Sitapur-Delhi National Highway in Uttar Pradesh to meet a land tax collector. Unknown assailants riding a motorcycle rammed Bajpai’s own motorcycle, shooting him at least three times in the upper abdomen after he had fallen.

Bajpai was rushed to a nearby hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival. A police official speaking with the Hindustan Times said that footage of the incident showed two men riding a motorcycle and a jeep following the journalist minutes before he was killed.

Members of the journalist’s family have reportedly stated they suspect the killing was related to his reporting on alleged irregularities in rice paddy sales and stamp duties in the state’s central-north, which resulted in the suspension of four local administrative officials. Police have stated that neither Bajpai or his family had received threats prior to his killing, and said in a preliminary probe that the killing could be related to a land dispute.

Police have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified persons for murder, forming four teams in Maholi and neighbouring towns in Sitapur district to take the accused into custody. 12 people, including a retired army personnel and three lekhpals, local land administrators, have been detained for questioning since March 8.

The IFJ has confirmed the killing of one other journalist in India related to their work in 2025. On January 3, the body of freelance journalist Mukesh Chandrakar was discovered in the central Indian state of Chhatisgarh, with police suspecting the case was related to a report on irregularities in a road construction project.

The IJU said: “ The killers of Raghavendra Bajpai must be brought to book with exemplary punishment. The IJU leaders expresses grave concern at the deteriorating press freedom situation and rampant media right violations in Uttar Pradesh by state and non-state actors.”

NUJ-I President Ras Bihari said:“The NUJ-I condemns the murder and demands justice, as well as financial assistance of 1 crore for Bajpai’s family. This tragic incident highlights the dangers faced by journalists in their line of work and serves as a reminder of the importance of press freedom.”

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said:“Exposing irregularities in government dealings is a clear example of public interest journalism, and the fact that the efforts of Raghvendra Bajpai resulted in his murder is both an outrage and a tragedy. Uttar Pradesh and Federal authorities must do their utmost to ensure that those responsible are not allowed to escape with impunity and ensure the safety of journalists.”