In a shocking incident, a journalist was shot at in Ghaziabad near Delhi, with parts of the attack being captured on CCTV footage.
Journalist Vikram Joshi was travelling on a motorcycle with his two daughters when a group of men assaulted him and opened fire at him.
The journalist received bullet injury on his head and is in critical condition at a private hospital. This incident has come close on the heels of the arrest of a journalist in Assam and other troubles being faced by mediapersons at a time when they are risking their lives due to Covid-19.
Rajib Sarma, a journalist in DY365 channel in this western Assam district, was arrested from his residence in Gauripur town, on charges of extortion and misbehaviour with the wife of a district official.
Hours after his arrest, his 64-year-old ailing father died due to cardiac arrest. The scribe’s arrest triggered a hue and cry in the State, following which the district Superintendent of Police and the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) were transferred.
Also, Assam police on Friday announced a CID investigation into the arrest of Sarma, who did a series of news reports claiming that cattle smuggling in Dhubri district was thriving on the alleged nexus between the DFO and district police.
Coming back to Ghaziabad incident, five persons, including the main accused who the police say opened fire, have been arrested. All of them were known to Mr Joshi’s family, the police said.
The attack comes days after Vikram Joshi, who works with a local daily, lodged a complaint at the Vijay Nagar police post against some people for harassing his niece on 16 July.
Joshi was returning home in Vijay Nagar area with his two daughters on a motorcycle when he was waylaid by over half a dozen armed men. The journalist was shot in the head by one of the accused, who then fled the spot, leaving him severely injured. He was taken to a hospital where he is in a critical condition.
The journalist was given a life threat by the accused men, according to the allegations made in the FIR. The family has alleged inadequate action by the local police post in-charge, who has been suspended with immediate effect considering the gravity of the matter. Law enforcing authorities are duty bound to protect the interests and lives of journalists.