India: journalist assassinated outside home
NUJ joins the International Federation of Journalists in condemning the murder of Vimal Kumar Yadav.
On 18 August, the Dainik Jagran newspaper reporter was shot in the chest at approximately 5.30am, after answering a knock at the door of his home in the Raniganj market area of Araria district. Yadav’s wife Pooja Devi has alleged the perpetrators are also responsible for the murder of her brother-in-law years earlier. Yadav had been testifying against the killers in an ongoing court trial.
Police have arrested four suspects in connection with the murder and the NUJ joins the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Indian Journalists Union (IJU) and the National Union of Journalists – India (NUJ-I), in calling for those responsible for the killing to be brought to swift justice. The NUJ-I has described the murder “as an attack on press freedom and independence”, demanding compensation for the victim’s family.
The NUJ-I and the IJU have repeated calls to the Indian government for a special law for the safety and security of journalists.
The IFJ said:
“The IFJ strongly condemns the brutal murder of Vimal Kumar Yadav and calls for a thorough and swift investigation. Governments must urgently take note of the demands of the industry and legislate laws to protect journalists in India."