Journalists in India Under Threat: Alarming Spike in Violence and Impunity

January 20, 2025 – India – 

Journalists across India, particularly in small towns and rural regions, face escalating threats—including harassment, assaults, and brutal killings—signaling a chilling decline in press freedom under the current political climate.

On January 1, 2025, investigative YouTuber Mukesh Chandrakar was found shot dead and dumped in a septic tank in Chhattisgarh after exposing local corruption tied to road contractors. A post-mortem revealed severe head, chest, back, and stomach injuries. Three suspects, including the contractor involved in his investigation, have been arrested; however, concerns persist over the safety sacrifices made by local reporters.

Earlier in the year, freelance journalist Mukesh Chandrakar’s murder followed a pattern of threats and intimidation often aimed at freelancers working without institutional backing. In central India, nine journalists were killed between 1992 and 2016; more recent reports show attacks surged regionally, with small-town reporters especially vulnerable to criminal syndicates, corrupt officials, and political actors.

In addition to fatalities, India’s press faces mounting judicial harassment. Journalists like Harleen Kapoor and Arjun Menon—covering sensitive topics such as caste violence and government misconduct—have reported death threats and legal action under anti-terror legislation. The Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been invoked at least 15 times against journalists since 2014, while 36 reports have resulted in detention.

According to Reporters Without Borders, India now ranks 161st out of 180 countries in press freedom, driven by violence, intimidation, and governmental pressures post-2014. The Press Council of India and CPJ report that prosecutions in cases involving attacks on journalists are rare—many remain unsolved, fueling a culture of impunity.

Despite this grim outlook, local media continue to resist. Independent outlets—like The Wire, Newslaundry—and freelance reporters persist in their work, albeit sometimes relocating to safer areas or avoiding contentious coverage

Reference – 

https://www.dw.com/en/india-local-reporters-face-risk-of-violence-murder/a-71352325