Bihar: Journalist From Dainik Bhaskar Who Reported About The Mafia Shot Dead

Journalist Killed In Bihar

A journalist working for the Hindi newspaper Dainik Bhaskar was shot dead on Saturday morning in Sasaram, district headquarters of Rohtas district in Bihar.

According to the eye-witnesses, Dharmendra Singh, 35, was at a tea stall outside his house in Amra Talab area in Sasaram, when three motorcycle-borne men fired at him from close range. The bullets hit his chest and abdomen.

He was rushed to Sadar hospital in Sasaram where he was referred to a bigger hospital in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, but he succumbed to his injuries on his way.

“We’re investigating the incident from all angles and will nab the killers soon,” said senior police official Alok Ranjan to The Hindu.

“Being a journalist for over a decade, Dharmendra Singh has been writing regularly on police raids against illegal stone crushers in the area, which might not have gone down well with the powerful mafia involved in the trade,” said a local journalist to The Hindu.

He further added that “The state government should also pay compensation of Rs. 25 lakh to his family members apart from taking action against those behind the murder.”

This comes after a senior journalist working with the Hindi daily Hindustan, Rajdeo Ranjan was shot dead, allegedly by the men of Siwan strongman Mohammad Shahabuddin.

Facts about journalist killing

• According to the annual reports of Reporters without Borders, India was among the three most dangerous countries for journalists in the year 2015 just behind Iraq and Syria.
• A total of 9 journalists were killed in 2015 in India and four amongst which were assassinated for reasons unidentified.
• India ranks a disgraceful 133 among the 180 countries in the latest World Press Freedom Index.
• In 2013-14, two journalists from Chattisgarh were killed.
• Akshay Singh from Aaj Tak was murdered in Madhya Pradesh while he was investigating Vyapam scam.
• Sandeep Kothari burned alive in Balaghat and his wife and children killed by mining mafia in Madhya Pradesh.
• Killing of Karun Mishra, Jansandesh Times, Sultanpur, U.P, in February 2016.He was involved in writing against illegal mining and was killed since he refuted to accept any bribe from the Mafia.

The above killings of journalists explain very well why our country ranks 133 in World Press Freedom Index.

The Logical Indian urges the state government to take strict actions against the guilty. Violence against journalists weakens our democracy. When the people entrusted with providing the people with information have to fear for their lives, it sends out the wrong signals about how India protects her citizens.