The freedom of press is passing through a challenging phase in India with journalists are continued to be persecuted through cases and threats. A study-Silencing Journalists in India, launched today revealed that 65 journalists have been killed in the line duty from the year 2000 to 2018.
Uttar Pradesh comes out as the most dangerous state for journalists in the study with as many as 12 journalists were reported killed during the period- highest among states. From Gauri Lankesh, editor of Gauri Lankesh Patrike who was shot dead outside her home in Bangalore on 5th September 2017 to the Rising Kashmir editor, Shujaat Bukhari who on 14 June 2018 was killed in Srinagar, the study profiled all 65 journalists who have laid their lives for writing fearlessly.
The study ’Silencing the Journalists in India’ has been published by Human Rights and Law Network (HRLN) in partnership with Press Club of India, Mumbai Press Club, Indian Women Press Corps, Delhi Union of Journalists, Mumbai Journalists Union and Media studies Group also complied the cases being initiated against journalists in an attempt to silence them.
The book also features 31 journalists who were framed in various cases for their critical writing in 12 states between 2000 and 2018.
The book Silencing Journalists in lndia with foreword by founding editor Of The Citizen Seema Mustafa was launched on Thursday by Anant Bagaitkar, president Press Club Of India, SK Pande, president Delhi Union of Journalists, Vineeta Pandey, general secretary IWPC, Colin Gonsalves, founder, Human Rights and Law Network and Anil Chamadia, convener of Media Studies Group.
