(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release: **Updates IFEX alerts of 28 January 1999** Paris, 10 February 1999 For immediate release Indian Journalist’s Murder Sparks International Concern The World Association of Newspapers has asked the Indian government to ensure a quick and thorough investigation into the murder of Indian journalist Shivani Bhatnagar, a […]
(WAN/IFEX) – The following is a WAN press release:
**Updates IFEX alerts of 28 January 1999**
Paris, 10 February 1999
For immediate release
Indian Journalist’s Murder Sparks International Concern
The World Association of Newspapers has asked the Indian government to
ensure a quick and thorough investigation into the murder of Indian
journalist Shivani Bhatnagar, a member of the special investigations
team at the Indian Express newspaper.
WAN, which represents more than 15,000 newspapers worldwide, expressed
serious concern at the murder and its apparent link to Mrs. Bhatnagar’s
reporting activities.
“We respectfully but strongly urge you to ensure that this crime is
thoroughly investigated and that those responsible are brought to
justice,” WAN said in a letter to Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari
Vajpayee. “Newspapers are a cornerstone of Indian democracy and we urge
you to do everything in your power to ensure that all members of the
press are able to carry out their profession free from harassment and
attack.”
Mrs. Bhatnagar was strangled with wire and stabbed repeatedly at her
Delhi apartment on 23 January while she was home with her baby son, who
was left unharmed.
Two rooms in the home had been ransacked but police stated that robbery
did not appear to be a motive, indicating that Mrs Bhatnagar’s
journalism activities might have been the reason for the attack. Local
news reports said that her killers might have been attempting to recover
incriminating documents.
The Paris-based WAN, the global association of the newspaper industry,
defends and promotes press freedom world-wide. Its membership includes
57 national newspaper publisher associations, individual newspaper
executives in 90 countries, 17 news agencies and seven regional press
groups.
