PCI seeks report from UP govt on journalist's murder

Representational Image. File Pic

The Press Council of India on Friday sought a report from the Uttar Pradesh government on the killing of a journalist in Jaunpur district, taking suo motu cognisance of the matter, reported news agency PTI.

As per the PTI report, Ashutosh Srivastava, a journalist with the Sudarshan News television channel, was shot dead in Jaunpur on Monday.

The 43-year-old journalist was shot dead in the Shahganj area of this Uttar Pradesh district on Monday, police said. Ashutosh Srivastava of Sabarhad village was on his way to Imranganj market around 9.30 am when unidentified assailants shot him at the intersection near Jaunpur-Shahganj Road, Circle Officer

Local journalists said Srivastava was writing against cow slaughter in the area. He had received several threats from smugglers and informed the police about these in writing.

Family sources said Srivastava had written to officers at the Shahganj police station a month ago and requested protection but the cops did not pay heed to his request.

Following the murder, locals held a protest by blocking the road. The protest was lifted following assurances by officials that the matter will be looked into.

In another case of assault on two journalists in Kandhamal district, the council, a quasi-judicial body, has also sought a report from the Odisha government.

In Odisha's Kandhamal district, Uttam Khamari and Subrat Kumar Mohanty, working with Odia dailies Prameya and Pragativadi, respectively, were allegedly assaulted by a sub-divisional police officer.

According to a complaint received by the Press Council of India, the police also refused to register a complaint submitted by the journalists.

(With inputs from PTI)