The International Federation

of Journalists (IFJ) is shocked to learn of the third murder in eight days of a

journalist in India.

Vikas Ranjan, 32, a reporter with the Hindi daily Hindustan, in Samastipur district of India’s eastern Bihar state,

was killed on November 25.

The IFJ joins its Indian affiliates in condemning the brutal murder of Ranjan, who has a long history of investigative work on

the state’s criminal networks.

According to reports, Ranjan had

spent the day on assignment and returned to his office in the afternoon. He was

shot in the evening as he stepped out of his office and walked toward his

parked motorcycle. His assailants,

who had reportedly been waiting at the site for some time,

fired several rounds at him. They left after firing repeatedly in the air to

frighten off witnesses.

Ranjan was taken to the nearest hospital where he was pronounced dead.

The IFJ learns that Ranjan had faced frequent threats for his

professional work and had brought these to the notice of the police force.

“Coming so soon

after the killings of journalists in Manipur and Assam,

the murder of Vikas Ranjan represents a new low for the media community in India,”

IFJ Asia-Pacific said.

On November 17, Konsam

Rishikanta was murdered in the north-eastern state of Manipur. On

November 22, Jagajit Saikia was murdered in Assam, also in the north-east.

The IFJ is

dismayed to learn that despite the personal initiative of the Bihar Chief

Minister, Nitish Kumar, there has been no progress in investigations into

Ranjan’s murder.

Meanwhile, the journalists’ community in Manipur observed a

day of protest yesterday to press for more serious action from state

authorities in apprehending the murderers of Rishikanta.

“The IFJ extends

its solidarity to the media community in India in this moment of trial,” IFJ Asia-Pacific

said.

For further

information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919

The IFJ

represents over 600,000 journalists in 122 countries