With state government initiating no further action against the accused including state minister, Rammurti Singh Verma and inspector Shree Prakash Rai, in connection with killing of a freelance journalist in Shahjahenpur, the Press Council of India (PCI) reportedly said to make an enquiry into the case before pursuing the matter with the state government for stern action. Sources said that PCI claimed to form a team which would visit Shahjahenpur to take first hand account of the incident, before taking up the issue with the government. Amnesty International India also claimed that the State government must set up a thorough, independent and impartial investigation into the alleged extrajudicial execution of a journalist by state police.
“This horrific attack highlights the dangers that journalists can face in doing their jobs,” said Shemeer Babu, Programmes Director, Amnesty International India. “It is crucial that the Uttar Pradesh government ensures that there is an independent investigation, and those responsible are brought to justice.” “Failure to do so will send out the message that those who criticize the government can be attacked with impunity.”
Indian Federation of Working Journalists (IFWJ) has also strongly condemned the murder of Jagendra Singh. In a statement issued on Wednesday afternoon, the IFWJ’s Secretary General Parmanand Pandey has demanded that the Akhilesh government must immediately sack the State Minister Ram Murti Singh Verma at whose instance the Police Inspector Shree Prakash Rai burnt Jagendra Singh after sprinkling petrol on his body. Pandey has also demanded arrest of Minister and the guilty Police Inspector before they could screen the evidences of the murder of the journalist. The family of Jagendra Singh must be given the monetary assistance of not less than Rs 25 lakh because he was the sole bread earner for his family. The newspapers for which he worked must also come forward to help family monetarily and raise their voice against the lawlessness that has gripped the State of Uttar Pradesh particularly after the Akhilesh government came to power.
Jagendra Singh, a freelance journalist, was allegedly set on fire by police officials at his home in Shahjahanpur district on June 1 last. He died from his injuries at a hospital in lucknow on last Monday. Jagendra Singh’s family told journalists that the attack was linked to his reports about the alleged involvement of an Uttar Pradesh Minister in illegal mining and land-grabs. The state police filed a case on Tuesday against the Minister and four police officials for alleged murder, conspiracy and intimidation but so far no further action has been taken. Jagendra Singh had earlier alleged that he had been sustained burn injuries during a raid at his home by the Shahjahenpur police.