PEC demands thorough probe into journalist Keshav’s murder

Aug. 10: Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), the Switzerland based global media rights body, expresses shock at the murder of journalist Ch. Keshav in Andhra Pradesh of central India and demanded a thorough probe into the incidents which led to his death, so that the culprits can be booked under the law. He is the third journalist to be killed in India this year.

Local media reports reveal that Keshav (35), who worked as a reporter with EV5 Youtube channel, was stabbed to death by a suspended police constable with supports from another individual on 8 August 2021 at Nandyal locality of Kurnool district. It is suspected that Chennakeshavalu was targeted because of his reporting on corruption and gambling issues.

The accused policeman Venkata Subbaiah faced the departmental suspension because of media reports on his illegal activities including gambling. Hence it is assumed that he intentionally killed the young reporter while calling Keshav for some discussions. The victim was taken to a nearby hospital but he succumbed to injuries.

“Keshav’s murder is the third incident of journo-killings during 2021 in the populous democratic country. The State government, led by YS Jagan MohanReddy, should do the needful to punish the culprits under relevant laws. There must be no impunity,” said Blaise Lempen, general secretary of PEC (https://pressemblem.ch/pec-news.shtml).

Last year, India recorded the highest number of journalists killed worldwide with 15 fatalities among 92 media persons killed in different countries. According to the PEC, 45 journalists have lost their lives across the globe since 1st January this year.

“India has slightly improved so far its media casualties to violence compared to last year, even though we have lost the highest number of journalists to Covid-19 till date in the world,” said Nava Thakuria, PEC’s representative in India, adding that in the first half of 2021 the south Asian nation lost journalists Ashu Yadav and Sulabh Srivastava to perpetrators.