Vimal Kumar Yadav – On 18 August 2023, a piece of news got viral in the country that a journalist from the Araria district of Bihar was shot dead at his home by unidentified gunmen on Friday morning. As per the sources, the reporter was the local journalist for Dainik Jagran newspaper. He was named Vimal Kumar Yadav. The 35-year-old man had a wife and was the father of two young kids.
According to the police, the murderers came to his home early morning around 5.30 AM, and knocked at his home. They also called his name. When Vimal Kumar Yadav opened the door, they fired at him and flee from the scene. The bullet hit on his chest directly and he passed away on the spot before he was taken to the hospital for treatment. The police have filed a murder case and started an investigation to know the motive behind the attack.
Outrage Among Journalists And Politicians
The politicians and journalists began worrying about their safety and demanding justice for Vimal Yadav. In addition to this, the Bihar Journalists Association (BJA) has also condemned the matter and killing and also called for a state-level protest on Saturday. Not only this, but Bihar Journalists Association also asked for around INR 10 Lakhs compensation for the family of Vimal Kumar Yadav and also a secured government job for his wife so that she can do better upbringing of her kids.
Nitish Kumar on Vimal Kumar Yadav Murder
Nitish Kumar, the Chief Minister of Bihar, expressed his grief over the unexpected incident. He assured them that the investigation will take place and they will find the assassins soon. He personally directed the Director General of Police (DGP) of Bihar to monitor the entire matter and do speedy work to find the murderer. Nitish also said that he will provide another INR 5 Lakhs for the wife and kids of Vimal Kumar Yadav.
Vimal’s wife is not in a condition to give any statement to the police yet because she is unable to believe what just happened to her husband. She is just demanding justice from the government and finding the murderers who ruined her life. She is also looking for further help to raise her two kids and their school expenses.
Raised Questions Over The Law And Order Situation
The murder of a reporter has once again sparked the importance of the Law and Order Situation in Bihar because a lot of crimes and violence usually took place in the state. Some of the cases include when a Dalit woman was gang-raped and killed by 4 men in the Buxar district of Bihar. Another incident was when bike-borne assailants in Patna killed a BJP leader. Additionally, a journalist was also attacked by the mob when he was covering a story in the Nalanda district.
The politicians have also jumped into this matter and blamed Nitish Kumar-led government for not maintaining law and order in the state. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief and leader of the opposition party named Tejashwi Yadav said that the government should be blamed for its negligence in criminal activities. Also, he alleged that there is a connection between politicians and criminals in Bihar.
The murder of Vimal Kumar Yadav has also sparked the security of journalism around the country. The dangers faced by Indian journalist ranks 142nd out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index 2021. Reportedly, around 4 reporters have been killed because of their work and journalism. The Committee to Protect Journalists wants a complete and thorough investigation of the murder of Vimal so that he can get justice and other journalists can feel safe in the region.
