JournalismPakistan.com | Published March 27, 2018
Join our WhatsApp channel
NEW DELHI - Hit-and-run attackers have killed two journalists in 24 hours in separate incidents that underlined India's reputation as one of the most dangerous places for reporters, police said on Monday.
Police on Monday detained a former village chief in Bihar state accused of running over and killing Navin Nischal, a reporter for Dainik Bhaskar, a major Hindi-language newspaper.
A television journalist, Sandeep Sharma, was mown down by a truck in the central state of Madhya Pradesh in the second attack.
Nischal and an associate Vijay Singh were on a motorcycle when they were run over in Bhojpur, about 80km from the Bihar state capital of Patna on Sunday.
Police said they had detained Mohammad Harsu, a former village chief in the region after Nischal's brother registered a formal complaint.
"He said it was a murder as he (Nischal) had an argument with the former village head yesterday," Bhojpur police superintendent Avkash Kumar told AFP.
Kumar said a murder case had been registered against Harsu and they were also seeking his son.
Media reports said Harsu and his son fled the accident scene and his sports utility vehicle was set on fire by local people.
Sharma, 35, had been investigating the illegal trade in sand for a television channel.
The journalist "had told the district administration he feared he could be killed by the 'sand mafia,'" his nephew Vikas Purhoit said in a complaint to the police, according to the Press Trust of India news agency.
CCTV footage of the attack early Monday, in Bhind district 300 miles from the state capital Bhopal, went viral on social media. It showed Sharma walking on the side of the road when a truck swerved and ran over him.
Media reports said Sharma had exposed links between a police officer and illegal sand mining operators.
Three journalists were reported killed in 2017 in India.
Journalists in the world's largest democracy often face harassment, frivolous litigation, and intimidation by police, politicians and criminal gangs. Many work in hostile conditions in conflict-ridden zones.
In New Delhi, last week media and civil rights groups protested after two journalists were assaulted by Delhi police as they covered a student protest in the national capital. - AFP
July 08, 2025: As Pakistani authorities move to block YouTube channels of journalists, censorship tightens. Yet, social media has emerged as a defiant force, keeping the spirit of free speech alive despite increasing state control.
July 08, 2025: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has acquitted a murder accused, ruling that confessions made to the media while in police custody are inadmissible. Justice Athar Minallah emphasized due process and transparency in legal proceedings.
July 08, 2025: The Pakistan government has approached a court seeking the removal of several YouTube channels operated by prominent journalists, accusing them of spreading false information and provoking unrest against state institutions.
June 11, 2025: Pakistan celebrated a narrow win over Bangladesh, but beneath the jubilation lies a deeper crisis—from sidelined veterans to a collapsing domestic structure—signaling an urgent need for cricket reform.
June 11, 2025: Journalists walked out of the post-budget press conference in Islamabad to protest the absence of a technical briefing and the government's dismissive behavior, calling it unacceptable and intolerable.
May 31, 2025: Dr. Nauman Niaz has issued a defamation notice to Shoaib Akhtar over derogatory remarks made during a recent broadcast, reigniting a longstanding media feud between the two prominent figures in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan has demanded the full repeal of PECA, citing its vague language, coercive powers, and threats to free speech and digital rights in Pakistan.
May 30, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the murder of journalist Syed Mohammed Shah in Jacobabad, calling for urgent justice and improved safety for media professionals in Sindh.
May 19, 2025 PJS reports 219 Palestinian journalists killed in Israeli attacks since October 7, with 30 women among the victims. Over 430 were injured and 685 family members were killed. Read more on the systematic targeting of media in Gaza.
May 15, 2025 Discover the legacy of Samiullah Khan, Pakistan’s legendary "Flying Horse," whose breathtaking speed and artistry redefined hockey. From Olympic glory to World Cup triumphs, his story is one of myth, movement, and magic.
May 04, 2025 Algerian authorities suspend Echorouk News TV for 10 days after it used a racist slur against African migrants. ANIRA demands an apology, calling it a violation of human dignity.
May 04, 2025 NCHR and MMfD launch a journalism fellowship to train reporters on digital rights & gender inclusion in Pakistan. Supported by UNESCO, this initiative aims to bridge the gender digital divide. Apply by May 15, 2025!
April 23, 2025 Discover Dr. Nauman Niaz’s In A Different Realm: Story of Quadruple & Triple Centuries 1876–2025, a profound exploration of cricket's most monumental innings, blending historical analysis with poetic narrative.