India: Bihar journalist stabbed to death

Journalist Shivshankar Jha was fatally stabbed on 25 June in north-western Bihar. His family claims that the murder was coordinated by an organised crime group. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the Indian Journalists Union (IJU), strongly condemn the murder and urge the Bihar authorities to ensure that those responsible do not get away with impunity.

On June 25, journalist Shivshankar Jha, 48, was stabbed multiple times in the throat by unknown assailants allegedly involved in illicit liquor trafficking in the northeastern state of Bihar. Jha was attacked while returning home in Maripur village near Muzaffarpur in Bihar. He was reportedly rushed by local residents to Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, where he died of his injuries on June 26.

Jha, who worked for several Hindi media outlets, had complained to the police about serious death threats before the attack. According to local media reports, the family alleged that the “local liquor mafia”, a criminal organisation that distributes illicit alcohol, was responsible for Jha's murder. Two people have reportedly been arrested in connection with the murder.

In a statement, the Indian Journalists Union (IJU) strongly condemned sentenced the murder of the journalist, with local politicians expressing Bihar has offered condolences and vowed to hold those responsible accountable. Since the ban on alcohol sales in 2016, Bihar has seen a surge in illicit production and distribution of alcohol.

On May 13, Ashutosh Srivastava, a journalist with Sudarshan News, was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh while returning home from a market. Like Shivshankar, he had received threats before his killing and had written to the police seeking protection.

The IJU said: “Jha was targeted by the liquor mafia and had even complained to the police a few days ago. The police should have acted promptly on his complaint. Worse still, this murder is yet another example of the crackdown on independent media. The IJU demands that the Bihar government arrest the culprits and bring them to justice. At the same time, the IJU urges the government to enact a Journalists’ Safety Act, which would deter state and non-state actors from targeting journalists and preserve press freedom.”

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said: “As journalists and media workers in India face killings, attacks and harassment, press freedom remains under threat. The police’s failure to protect Shivshankar Jha and Ashutosh Srivastava must be investigated, and authorities must ensure that those responsible cannot escape with impunity.”