JournalismPakistan.com | Published August 15, 2015
Join our WhatsApp channel
MEXICO CITY: Gunmen opened fire on a bar in the Mexican state of Veracruz, killing six people including a local boss of the Zetas drug cartel and a journalist, officials said.
Five men wielding high-power guns burst into the bar in the eastern city of Orizaba, shooting dead journalist Juan Heriberto Santos and Jose Marquez Balderas, a local Zetas boss known as "El Chichi," in addition to four others, the state government said in a statement, citing witnesses.
Two police officers were wounded, one seriously, as officers unsuccessfully tried to chase down the gunmen after the attack.
Two other journalists were also in the bar but were unharmed, officials said.
The editor of the local newspaper where they work, Luis Dominguez, said the two reporters told him the gunmen sprayed Santos with bullets then kicked him in the head "in a tremendous rage" before leaving the bar, a popular hangout with local crime reporters.
Dominguez said one of the gunmen also beat the two journalists from his daily, El Buen Tono, with a bottle. One of the reporters was slightly wounded, he told Radio Formula.
Veracruz, home to one of Mexico's busiest ports, has seen a surge in violence linked to organized crime in recent years.
It is also considered one of the most dangerous states for journalists. Seventeen reporters have been killed there since 2000, according to rights group Article 19.
Also Thursday, seven bodies were found wrapped in blankets between the states of Puebla and Veracruz, a local police source said.
The bodies had bullet wounds, signs of torture and a note of warning attached to two of them, the source said.
The country was shaken two weeks ago by the brutal murder in Mexico City of five people including photojournalist Ruben Espinosa, who had fled to the capital after receiving threats in Veracruz.
Veracruz Governor Javier Duarte, a member of President Enrique Pena Nieto's Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), has been accused of threatening journalists.
He gave a statement to investigators Tuesday denying any involvement in Espinosa's death. - AFP
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 26, 2025: In Rawalpindi, police allegedly side with Jang Group to block 66 reinstated employees from resuming work despite court orders, drawing sharp criticism from unions and press freedom advocates.
May 25, 2025: PFUJ condemns the Jang Group's decision to dismiss over 80 employees in Rawalpindi, calling it an 'economic massacre.' The union warns of nationwide protests if workers are not reinstated.
May 25, 2025: Daily Jang Rawalpindi has terminated over 80 employees, including female staff, despite multiple court rulings in their favor—raising concerns over labor rights violations and misuse of authority in Pakistani media.
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.