Journalist reporting on corruption found dead in Uttarakhand river
Media bodies demand probe as press freedom shrinks under Modi regime
New Delhi: Journalism in India is becoming increasingly dangerous with each passing day under the Hindutva-driven BJP government as another journalist, known for exposing corruption, has been found dead under suspicious circumstances.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the body of 36-year-old journalist Rajeev Pratap, who ran the YouTube news channel Delhi Uttarakhand Live, was recovered from the Bhagirathi river on September 28, nine days after he went missing. His car had earlier been discovered near the river, but his family alleges he was abducted and murdered for his reporting.
Pratap’s wife, Muskan, revealed that he had received repeated death threats after exposing irregularities in a government hospital and a school. “He said people were calling him, threatening to kill him if the videos were not taken down. He did not simply fall into the river – he was abducted,” she told the media.
While Uttarakhand police initially claimed it was an accident, media watchdogs and press associations have strongly rejected the narrative. The National Alliance of Journalists, Delhi Union of Journalists, and Kerala Union of Working Journalists have all demanded a transparent probe. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) warned that authorities must not dismiss allegations of foul play and must investigate the threats Pratap had received.
The Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) also noted that Pratap’s death occurred under “mysterious circumstances” and called on police to ensure transparency.
His killing adds to a disturbing list of Indian journalists who have faced violent reprisals for investigative reporting. In recent years, Mukesh Chandrakar (Chhattisgarh), Shashikant Warishe (Maharashtra), and Subhash Kumar Mahto (Bihar) were all murdered for exposing corruption, mafias, or illegal land grabs.
Press freedom advocates say this pattern reflects the Modi government’s tightening grip on dissent and erosion of democratic safeguards. India ranks 151st out of 181 countries in the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders, placing it among the world’s most hostile environments for journalists.
