New Delhi, 13 June 2021: The Indian Journalists Union expresses concern over the passing away of journalist Sulabh Srivastava, working with ABP News TV channel ABP News, a day after he filed complaints to UP Police seeking protection. The Union demanded that an impartial inquiry be conducted into the case.

While returning home on his motorcycle from Lalganj town on June 13 night, Srivastava hit a handpump along the road and had an accident. Laborers found his body lying near a brick-kiln and informed his family. He was rushed to a hospital in Pratappur district, where he was declared dead.

On June 12 Srivastava, had lodged a complaint with UP police over Whatsappsaying he had received threats for his reportage on a liquor selling group on June 9. The complaints read: “Last two days, whenever I went out of my house for some work, I felt I was being followed. Based on sources and public discussion, I feel that some liquor mafia who are unhappy over my news, can cause harm to me and my family.”

In a statement, IJU President and former Member, Press Council of India, Geetartha Pathak and IJU Secretary General and International Federation of Journalists Vice President Sabina Inderjit  said his death was under suspicious circumstances and fear that he was murdered by liquor baron for exposing their involvement in illegal activities. The postmortem report also suggests that he was murdered, said the union and demanded a judicial/CBI investigation.