New Delhi, 19 August 2023: The Indian Journalists Union condemns the killing of journalist Vimal Kumar Yadav working for Hindi daily Dainik Jagran by unidentified assailants at his residence in Prem Nagar, Raniganj, Araria district of Bihar on Friday morning. The Union demanded that all culprits be brought to book immediately and that a special law for safety and security of journalists is enacted. 

According to the police, “the assailants knocked at Yadav’s house around 5.30 am and opened fire when he opened the gates. He died on the spot; his body has been sent for post-mortem examination; an investigation is underway.” While the motive of the murder is not fully established, the police suspect it could be linked to the murder of his brother in 2019, as Yadav was the sole witness in that case. Besides, police also are looking into the angle that Yadav was said to be ‘involved in an old dispute with a neighbour.’ 

So far, eight individuals have been identified by the police as suspects in the case, of which four have been arrested. Two other accused are lodged in Araria jail and are under custody for further investigation. 

In a statement IJU President and former member of Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General, IFJ Vice President and FAPaJ President Sabina Inderjit said the ghastly murder in broad daylight of a journalist sadly reaffirms that safety and security of journalists is not a priority of governments, even though the IJU has been long demanding a special law for the same. The fourth estate goes unprotected and hampers journalists from carrying out their duties to keep the citizenry informed. The murder of the journalist said the Union should not be seen in isolation but as an attack on press freedom and independence.