Bihar Bloodshed: After cop, journalist murdered; wife says he was courageously pursuing truth

Local Journalist of Bihar killed by goons on bike during the early hours of the day

ARARIA (BIHAR) | Updated: 18 August, 2023 8:26 pm IST
Local Journalist killed in Araria, Bihar

ARARIA(BIHAR): A broad day light bone-chilling killing of a Hindi daily journalist rocked Bihar on Friday, triggering a nationwide outrage on the lawlessness and attack on vanguards of speech in a state that has recently witnessed 30 murders in Patna in last month alone.

Vimal Kumar Yadav was shot dead by at least two unidentified bike-borne assailants, who arrived with pistol at his residence in Araria’s Raniganj town and dragged him out of his home while his family members were sleeping inside during the wee hours of Friday.The incident comes two days after a Bihar policeman was shot dead by cattle smugglers, less than 100 km away from Araria, in Samastipur.

Daughter of a senior Bihar journalist, who was killed on Friday, seen weeping inconsolobaly. (TNI  Stringer Photo)

Yadav was the sole witness of that incident when the assailants had pumped bullets into Gappu, who was a sarpanch then, in front of his eyes.

My husband was a courageous journalist who relentlessly pursued truth. His tragic death leaves an irreplaceable void. Our family has been irreparably shattered,” Pooja Devi, the wife of Yadav, who was working as a bureau chief with Dainik Jagran.

Yadav’s murder is a throwback to a similar gruesome incident involving his brother Gappu Yadav in 2019 who too was shot down by assailants in a personal rivalry. Sources in Bihar Police said that local mafia Kranti Yadav, has surfaced as the prime suspect. Kranti, who is lodged in Supaul Jail is facing charges of conspiracy to eliminate the Yadav brothers.

Yadav’s bereaved family includes his 15-year-old son and 13-year-old daughter. Opposition tore into Nitish government over the killing.

“Nitish Kumar should magnify his glasses to size up the growing crime in Bihar. First, the illicit liquor killed more than 100 this year, then 35 kids suffered illness after consuming mid-day meals in the same district of Araria,” said BJP Bihar president Samrat Choudhary.

Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) (Ram Vilas faction) chief and Jamui MP Chirag Paswan, who recently joined hands with the BJP, accused Nitish of harbouring prime ministerial ambitions at the cost of the return of Jungle Raj by joining hands with Rashtriya Janta Dal (RJD).

On his recent trip to Delhi, Nitish couldn’t find a single host. He went empty handed while seeking meetings with other party leaders,” said Paswan.

While the Editors Guild, the prestigious association in Delhi was silent on the killing, the local journalists took to streets to protest against the lack of safety and protection of journalists in Bihar under Nitish regime.

“This tragic incident has sent shockwaves throughout the journalistic community. We demand a thorough investigation to ensure justice is served,” said Amarinder Singh, President of Araria District Journalists Association.

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