Amnesty seeks probe into journalist's death

Rights organisation Amnesty International India on Monday sought an independent probe into "mowing down" of a journalistin Madhya Pradesh and demanded the state government bring the guilty to book and send out a clear message that such attacks will not be tolerated.

Reacting to reports of Sandeep Sharma, a journalist investigating illegal sand mining, being mowed down by a truck in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh, Asmita Basu, Programmes Director, Amnesty International India said the killing illustrates the risks that human rights defenders in India face.

She noted that the journalist had sought police protection after doing two 'sting' operations.

"An independent and impartial probe must investigate this murder. Many brave journalists, activists and whistleblowers have been harassed, threatened and killed for exposing human rights abuses and corruption," she said.

Basu said that in many cases, lives could have been saved if authorities had acted on reports of threats and other abuses.

"Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan needs to bring those responsible to book and send a clear message that these attacks will not be tolerated," she said.

--IANS

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