Journalists' Forum of Assam (JFA) today demanded action against the killers of Uttar Pradesh journalist Jagendra Singh who was allegedly set ablaze by a state minister along with his associates and four policemen.
"We demand appropriate actions against those who eliminated Singh to avoid embarrassment because of his regular postings on Facebook," JFA president Rupam Barua and secretary Nava Thakuria said in a statement here.
They also urged UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav to take up the issue immediately and help in ensuring punishment for the accused and demanded that the government should adequately compensate Singh's family as he was their sole breadwinner.
The Forum also extended moral support to the agitating media persons of the state and appealed to civil society groups to stand behind the journalist fraternity in its demand for justice for the bereaved family.
The 42-year-old Shahjahanpur-based freelance journalist died on June 8 at Lucknow Civil Hospital where he was undergoing treatment for burn injuries since June one.
His family members had lodged a complaint at the local police station alleging that UP minister Ram Murti Verma along with a few of his associates and four policemen had set Singh on fire at his residence.
The family members claimed that the Samajwadi Party minister developed enmity towards Singh who with the help of RTI started posting regular feeds on Facebook alleging that Verma was involved in corruption and land grab issues.
Singh had earlier worked for leading dailies like Amar Ujala, Hindustan and Swatantra Bharat and had recently turned into an alternate media activist.
Singh is survived by his bed-ridden father, wife and three children.
