New Delhi, 14 May 2024: The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) condemns the killing of journalist Ashutosh Srivastava on May 13 and assault on journalist Raghav Trivedi on May 12 in Uttar Pradesh and called on authorities to investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice. 

According to local news reports, at about 9:30 a.m. Srivastava, a former correspondent of news channel Sudarshan News and a member of the ruling BJP, was shot several times by unknown assailants while riding his motorcycle at the outskirt of the city of Jaunpur. He was declared dead upon arrival at a local hospital and police were investigating the incident. It’s not established whether he was killed for publication of news or for other reasons. However, locals said he was killed for writing against cow slaughter in the area. Another claim was that he had animosity with certain people in connection with murder of a person long ago. 

IJU has also condemned the attack against journalist Raghav Trivedi, who works for news portal Molitics, during Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s rally in Rae Bareli, UP by few BJP leaders. The IJU has urged the Election Commission of India and the local administration to take strict action against the culprits.  

In a statement IJU president and former member of Press Council of India Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General of IJU and Vice President of International Federation of Journalists Sabina Inderjit said “Journalists are regularly facing intimidation, physical attack for their reportage in the country. Freedom of press and safety of journalists are at a low under the present government both in states and at the Centre. These undermine the fourth estate and India being a robust democracy.