After Sudarshan News’s Ashutosh Srivastava was shot dead by unidentified assailants while riding a bike and digital outlet Molitics reporter Raghav Trivedi was assaulted at home minister Amit Shah’s rally in Uttar Pradesh, the Committee to Protect Journalists has called on authorities to “thoroughly investigate the incidents and bring those responsible to justice”. 

Srivastava, who was also a BJP leader, had written to the local police a month ago about receiving threats after reporting on illegal slaughter of cows, reports said. While it has not been established if he was killed in connection with his report, the CPJ cited his kin as saying that the police “did not pay heed to his request”. 

The press body said, “Reports of the killing of journalist Ashutosh Srivastava and the assault of Raghav Trivedi in Uttar Pradesh are deeply disturbing. The authorities must ensure that those responsible are brought to justice. Journalists in Uttar Pradesh must be able to cover the general elections without fear.”

It also cited Newslaundry’s report on Molitics reporter Trivedi’s assault, in which he said that he was assaulted after he asked BJP leaders about allegations that “women had been paid to attend the rally”, after which “a group of BJP activists ordered him to delete the footage but he refused and they attacked him, called him anti-Muslim slurs, and accused him of spreading false information”.

The CPJ report said journalists told the media advocacy group that they “feared political unrest, harassment, and censorship during the volatile election season, which has already been disrupted by violence”.

The Editors Guild of India and Press Club of India also wrote to the Election Commission of India over “attack”  on journalists. The EGI drew attention to journalists “facing heckling, at times manhandled and even subjected to physical assault” at election rallies, while the PCI said it was “concerned” over “increase in attack on mediapersons while discharging  their journalistic duties during the ongoing election coverage”. 

The press club’s letter mentioned Trivedi’s assault at Amit Shah’s rally and “physical molestation” allegedly suffered by ANI journalist Tanya Chugh at a TMC rally. 

“As we know that the free press is a cornerstone of democracy, crucial for holding elected political representatives accountable…such things which have become regular these days would defeat the very purpose of being the largest democracy in the world, and also undermine the freedom of press.”  

It urged the ECI to issue a direction to law enforcement agencies to “ensure protection of journalists so that they can discharge their professional duties in a free and fair manner. We also urge you to instruct all officers and personnel on election duty…to be vigilant against any such incident.”

The guild said even if such incidents are “stray”, it can create a “debilitating atmosphere for journalists and inhibit fair reportage”.     

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