A journalist from Uttar Pradesh, who was shot in Ghaziabad near Delhi by unknown persons on Monday, died on Wednesday morning at a hospital.
The journalist, identified as Vikram Joshi, was attacked while he was returning from his sister's place on a motorcycle with his two daughters when a group of men opened fire at him.
Joshi received a bullet injury on his head and was in a critical condition at city's Yashoda Hospital, reported ANI.
Senior Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani said nine persons have been arrested, including two main accused — Ravi and Chotu. He added that an illegal weapon was also seized from their possession, ANI reported. Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ajay Shankar Pandey said the chief minister has announced an ex gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the family of the deceased and a job for his wife.
Visuals of the attack were captured in CCTV footage of a road in Ghaziabad's Vijay Nagar area, where the attack took place. Nine people have been arrested in connection with a case.
The journalist’s nephew said that they would not accept his uncle's body until the main accused are arrested.
“Some boys including Kamal-ud-Din’s son used to eve-tease my sister. It was her birthday when the incident occurred. My uncle was coming home with her when Kamal-ud-Din’s son attacked him and shot him. We'll not accept my uncle's body till main accused is caught,” the nephew was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi launched an attack on the state government over the incident and said that the promise of 'Ram Raj' was given to the people but 'Gunda Raj' was delivered instead.
"Journalist Vikram Joshi was killed for protesting against the harassment of his niece. My condolences to the bereaved family. The promise was of 'Ram Raj' but 'Gunda Raj has been given,'" Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi.
अपनी भांजी के साथ छेड़छाड़ का विरोध करने पर पत्रकार विक्रम जोशी की हत्या कर दी गयी। शोकग्रस्त परिवार को मेरी सांत्वना।वादा था राम राज का, दे दिया गुंडाराज।— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 22, 2020
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the killing raises many questions about the law and order situation and added that the journalist's killers must be punished.
अपनी भांजी के साथ हुई छेड़छाड़ के खिलाफ आवाज़ उठाने पर पत्रकार विक्रम जोशी की हत्या हमारी कानून व्यवस्था पर बहुत सारे सवाल खड़ा करती है। विक्रम जोशी के हत्यारों को कड़ी से कड़ी सजा मिलनी चाहिए।— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) July 22, 2020
Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra slammed the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh over the incident and said that'jungle raj' was increasing in the state.
"Journalist Vikram Joshi was shot in front of his daughter for opposing harassment of his niece. He died today. 'Jungle Raj' has increased in UP that after complaining, the common man is afraid of criminals. On the issue of crime, the BJP government has failed like the previous governments," Priyanka Gandhi wrote in a tweet in Hindi.
अपनी भांजी के साथ छेड़छाड़ का विरोध करने पर पत्रकार श्री विक्रम जोशी जी को बेटी के सामने गोली मारी गयी थी। आज उनकी मृत्यु हो गई। यूपी में जंगलराज इस कदर बढ़ गया है कि शिकायत करने के बाद आमजन को बदमाशों का डर सताता है। भाजपा सरकार अपराध के मुद्दे पिछली सरकारों की तरह ही फेल है।— Priyanka Gandhi Vadra (@priyankagandhi) July 22, 2020
Senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi termed the incident as shocking and added that there was a lack of fear of law and order. “Shocking jungle raaj in #Ghaziabad area with journalist #Joshi, already known as complainant in #FIR, being shot on scooter while with his daughters, struggling in coma with bullet in skull! Thank God daughters not hit. Shocking, scary, disgusting lack of fear of law & order! #UP,” Singhvi wrote on Twitter.
Shocking jungle raaj in #Ghaziabad area with journalist #Joshi, already known as complainant in #FIR, being shot on scooter while with his daughters, struggling in coma with bullet in skull! Thank God daughters not hit. Shocking, scary, disgusting lack of fear of law & order! #UP— Abhishek Singhvi (@DrAMSinghvi) July 22, 2020
BSP chief Mayawati, in a tweet in Hindi, said that the manner in which serious crimes, including murders, were continuing in Uttar Pradesh, it has become clear that "Jungle Raj" and not law is governing the state. She added that the government should pay attention to this.
पूरे यूपी में हत्या व महिला असुरक्षा सहित जिस तरह से हर प्रकार के गंभीर अपराधों की बाढ़ लगातार जारी है उससे स्पष्ट है कि यूपी में कानून का नहीं बल्कि जंगलराज चल रहा है अर्थात् यूपी में कोरोना वायरस से ज्यादा अपराधियों का क्राइम वायरस हावी है। जनता त्रस्त है। सरकार इस ओर ध्यान दे।— Mayawati (@Mayawati) July 22, 2020
AAP leader Sanjay Singh said that it was saddening to see that even seeking justice had become a crime in Uttar Pradesh.
"Journalist Vikram Joshi sought help from the police two hours before the incident but the SO did not help him and goons shot him in front of his daughters. May Vikram Joshi's soul rest in peace," Singh tweeted in Hindi.
In the CCTV footage of the incident, Joshi's bike can be seen veering when suddenly in no time, a group of men surround the vehicle and begin hitting him. The two children started to run away the moment the bike fell.
Joshi was then dragged towards a car and the accused started to beat him before fleeing the spot, following which Joshi's daughter came running towards him, screaming for help.
The incident took place days after Joshi filed a complaint with Vijay Nagar Police Station stating that some men were harassing his niece.
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