Months after he complained of ‘threats from land mafia’, journalist ‘shot at’ in Uttar Pradesh

Two days after a journalist in Unnao was allegedly shot at, the Uttar Pradesh police is yet to register an FIR in the matter, and said they are awaiting a complaint from his family, the Indian Express reported. Around 10 pm on Saturday, Mannu Awasthi, 25, was reportedly shot at while riding a scooter in an area under the Kotwal police station. His condition is said to be stable. 

Three months ago, Awasthi had lodged a complaint on being threatened by members of the land mafia over his reportage on them. “I am being threatened on the phone… If I am attacked or anyone from my family is, these people will be responsible,” he had also said in a video following the FIR. He had alleged that he was being followed and harassed.

On Saturday, Awasthi was taken to the district hospital in a scooter with injuries on his right shoulder. He was later referred to Lala Lajpat Rai Hospital in Kanpur. A live and a used cartridge was recovered from the crime scene by the Uttar Pradesh police. However, the police said the cartridge “did not match the injury”, and while the doctors’ final opinion is awaited, they suspect it to be a pellet injury.   

In the videos released in the preceding months, Awasthi had said that a sitting MLA was among those who pressured him over his story on the land mafia, while he was also being threatened for his report on an attack on a BJP leader’s house. He was provided police protection following the FIR, but as Awasthi alleged harassment by the policemen too, his security cover was withdrawn, the police said. 

The police also highlighted that Awasthi has been booked in cases of rape and cheating. Police investigations in the two cases are going on.