New Delhi, 24 May: The Indian Journalists Union is shocked at the brutal murder of Subhash Kumar Mahto, a local reporter in Begusaria district, Bihar, allegedly by liquor and sand mafia on May 20. The IJU condemns the dastardly act and demands that the State government brings the culprits to book.
According to reports, Mahto was fatally shot outside his home in Sakho village while he was returning from a wedding dinner with family members around 8.45 pm. He was shot in the head by four men who immediately fled the scene. He was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared brought dead.
Mahto was a reporter with a local cable station City News and frequently used Public App to post his reports. His family members said that he was killed for exposing the liquor and sand mafia in his reportage.
In a statement, IJU President and former Member, Press council of India, Geetartha Pathak and Secretary General and International Federation of Journalists Vice President Sabina Inderjit said the murder needs to be condemned in the strongest terms and that the State government must give justice to the family of Mahto by arresting the culprits. At the same time, it must also set up an inquiry to investigate the criminal activities of the sand and liquor mafia in the State, exposed by Mahto.
The IJU expressed serious concern over the growing trend of journalists being targeted by both State and non-State actors for their reportage and demanded that the Central government must heed to its long-pending demand of enacting a safety law for protection of journalists and safeguarding press freedom.
