Journalists Assassinations: Is this the cost of writing the truth?

HOW MANY MORE TO DIE?
Journalism is considered as one of the toughest jobs of the modern era, not because it tests physical strength, but because of what it takes mentally to live each day as a journalist. Working late till night, some sleepless nights and working at home, surviving on 2-3 hours of sleep, these are usually what journalists deal with daily. No two days of the life of a journalist is same.

They are now a threat to some people because journalist risks their life in exposing corruption, crime, unfolding the truth to the people, solving mysteries.

Many journalists/reporters have lost their lives for writing the truth, the actions were so loud and clear that the corrupt had to shut their voice. In the year 2017 only India lost its 12 journalists either assassinated or killed in suspicious situations.

Following are some cases, where some brilliant minds lost their lives unfolding the truth.

Gauri Lankesh (Bengaluru)

She was a journalist turned activist from Bengaluru. She played numerous campaigns for Human Rights and was known for her work against the right-wing Hindu extremism. She was an edito for her father's monthly paper and she herself ran a weekly newspaper named Gauri Lankesh Patrike.

Gauri was killed by 3 un-identified men outside her house on 5 Sept 2017. Her death was condemned by all people and politicians. Candle marches were organised to pay tribute to her and in demand for justice.

Santanu Bhowik (Tripura)

He was a young television journalist of Tripura who was brutally murdered while he was covering and broadcasting the clash of tribal wing and IPFT communist on 20 Sept 2017, just days after Bengaluru's Gauri Lankesh was killed. His death outraged a nation wide protest about safety of journalists and arrest of the murderers. His father later demanded a CBI enquiry upon his son's death.

Sudip Datta (Tripura)

Months after the death of a young journalist Santanu Bhowmik, a senior 49 year old journalists became a victim of an act of vengeance. He was found shot dead tat a battalion of Tripura State Rifles (TSR).

The Editor of Syandan Patrika(where he worked for) accused that TSR officials killed the journalist as Sudip was doing an investigation on financial irregularities in Tripura Police. He suspects that when Sudip went to inquire officials of the TSR, a jawan shot him dead.

Naveen Gupta ( Kanpur)

Naveen Gupta, was working as a contributor with the daily Hindustan for ore than 8 years. He was shot near the Nagar Palika market in Billhaur, about 60 km from Kanpur, around 6:30 pm on 30 Nov 2017. The attackers, three to four in number, shot him while he was coming out of the toilet of his hosiery shop and then fled. A contract killer was arrested by the police officials but the reason was not clear.

Shujaat Bukhari (Srinagar)

Shujaat Bukhari , a veteran journalist and editor of newspaper " Rising Kashmir" was gunned down by 3 suspected armed men (terrorists) when he was leaving out of his office in Srinagar on June 14, 2018. He was given police protection since an attack on him in 2002. His bodyguards were shot first and later Shujaat Bukhari was shot multiple times.

He actively participated in organising several conferences for peace in the Kashmir valley and mentored several young journalists.

May God Bless the departed soul and bring peace and justice to them and we pray that their sacrifice doesn't go in vain.