Page 42 - Tehelka Issue 13 - July 15, 2018

photo: faizal khan
India continues As many as 100 mediapersons were
killed or attacked till date since

to be dangerous beginning of 2017. If the country wants
its fourth democratic pillar to be
protected and scribes to continue their
for scribes risky job for the greater interest, then
their security along with justice must

be ensured, writes nava thakuria

s the year rolls on, the In- The largest democracy in the globe a Hindi magazine, were riding on a
dian subcontinent has lost three journalists in mysterious ac- two-wheeler when the accident took
slightly improved its jour- cidents within twelve hours in Madhya place. Lately, sensation prevailed in
no-murder parameter Pradesh (MP) and Bihar on 25 and 26 the country following the murder of
A with less than ten journal- March 2018. Sandeep Sharma (36), a well-known Kashmiri journalist Syed
ists being killed since January 1,2018 till dedicated reporter of Bhind locality of Shujaat Bukhari, who was shot dead in
date. However, India continues to be MP, was deliberately mowed down by Srinagar on June 14 by a group of mili-
dangerous for scribes, as it tops the list a truck in the morning hours, follow- tants. The proprietor and chief editor
of casualties in the subcontinent with ing which the News World reporter of Rising Kashmir, Shujaat (59) earlier
four journalists being murdered in the succumbed to injuries in the hospital. faced similar attacks in 2000 and 2006.
last six months. Sandeep used to contribute media re- The brave and outspoken journalist was
Pakistan follows India with two cas- ports against the sand mafia and he since provided government security.
ualties. Bangladesh reported the mur- received threats. On the previous night, But this time, both of his security guards
der of one editor-publisher in the first two scribes namely Navin Nischal and namely Hamid Chaudhary and Mumtaz
half of 2018. However, Myanmar, Nepal, Vijay Singh were hit by a luxury vehicle Awan also fall prey to the hardliner Is-
Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Maldives and Tibet in Bhojpur locality of Bihar and died lamist forces. Starting his career in
(now under Chinese occupation) have on their way to the hospital. Navin (35), Kashmir Times, Shujaat shifted to The
not reported any incident of journo- who used to work for Dainik Bhaskar Hindu as its Kashmir correspondent.
killing in this period. and Vijay (26), who was associated with Later he established Kashmir Media

tehelka / 15 july 2018 42 www.tehelka.com

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