Ghaziabad-based journalist Vikram Joshi, who was shot in the head by some assailants two days ago, succumbed to his injuries early on Wednesday, prompting a countrywide outrage with Rahul Gandhi saying there was “Goonda raj” in Uttar Pradesh.
Joshi had lodged a complaint with police alleging harassment of his niece on July 16 and was shot around 10.30pm on Monday near his home in Vijay Nagar area, according to officials.
Joshi, who worked with a local daily, was admitted to a private hospital. So far, nine people have been arrested in connection with the case, according to the police. But the police have not been able to nab the person who fired at Joshi. Nor have they recovered the weapon used to kill the journalist.
Police have registered an FIR on the basis of a complaint by Joshi’s brother Aniket, who alleged that the journalist was given a life threat by the accused men. Three suspects — Ravi, Shahnoor alias Chhotu and Akash — were named in the FIR, while some other unnamed people were also accused in the case.
The district police have identified Shahnoor, alias Chhotu, as the man who had shot Joshi after the group waylaid him while he was returning home on Monday night.
Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani said nine assailants were nabbed on Tuesday and Pratap Vihar police post incharge Raghvendra Singh was suspended with immediate effect for dereliction of duty as he did not pay heed to the harassment complaint lodged by Joshi.
Joshi had filed a police complaint on July 16 that Ravi and his accomplices were harassing his niece, the SSP said.
A CCTV footage of the attack on the journalist that has surfaced on social media purportedly shows Joshi’s two-wheeler swerving before falling down and him getting attacked by the armed group of men. His daughters ran away to some distance, while the men caught hold of Joshi and started thrashing him. Suddenly, one of them opened fire and Joshi fell on the ground.
The accused fled the spot, while his elder daughter rushed back to him and sat next to him on the road looking for help, the purported footage showed. Shahnoon and Akash have been arrested while Ravi is still absconding, police said. Besides them, the police have also arrested seven men identified as Mohit, Dalbir, Yogendra, Shaqir, two men who go by the same name of Abhishek, and another accused Akash (besides the one who was named in the FIR), the officials said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has announced a financial aid of Rs 10 lakh for Joshi’s family, a job for his wife and free education for his children, an official spokesperson said in Lucknow.
Criticising UP’s law and order situation, Rahul said, “Journalist Vikram Joshi was killed for opposing molestation of his niece. My condolences to the bereaved family. “They [UP govt] had promised Ram Raj, instead gave Gunda Raj.”
Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee also took a potshot at the UP Government, saying, “He was shot in UP for filing an FIR to book his niece’s molesters. An atmosphere of fear has been created in the country. Voices being muzzled. Media not spared. Shocking.”
Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said the people of the State are in a shock after a journalist in Ghaziabad was shot dead. “The strength and morale of criminals and miscreants are flourishing. #NoMoreBJP,” he said.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too demanded “strictest punishment” in the crime..
BSP chief Mayawati said the way heinous crimes like murder and those against women are continuing unabated, it is clear that instead of law and order, jungle raj is prevailing in UP. “Crime virus of criminals is more active than the coronavirus in UP. People are fed up and the Government must address this issue,” she said.
“This incident has revealed that “Gunda raj” is prevailing in Uttar Pradesh. It is clear there is no law and order in the state. Will the police not heed to calls by journalists like Joshi? Will journalists be killed by gangsters in broad daylight? The situation in Uttar Pradesh is pitiful,” said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.