India asks state authorities to protect journalists

The CPJ says that 41 journalists have been killed in India since 1992 [Xinhua]
The Indian Home Ministry on Wednesday issued a directive to state governments asking them to ensure the safety and security of reporters and journalists in the country.
The advisory comes on the heels of the murder of two prominent journalists in the last month alone.
Editor Gauri Lankesh was shot dead by unknown attackers in Bangalore, the Indian press reported on September 5.
On September 21, Shantanu Bhowmik, a reporter for a local news channel, was beaten to death in Tripura state in the country’s northeast. He was covering a protest.
The directive from New Delhi states:

“Fourth Estate is an important institution of the democracy. It ensures that citizens are able to express their opinions freely without any fear and coercion as provided under the Constitution of India. It is the duty of the state to ensure safety and security of the journalists who ensure that the Fourth Estate discharges this key duty.”

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the Indian government to launch investigations into the murders.
It lists on its website the deaths of 41 journalists killed in India since 1992.
While police arrested two people in connection with the murder of Bhowmik, the killing of Gauri Lankesh has not been solved.

The BRICS Post with inputs from Agencies