(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the head minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Karunanidhi, RSF expressed its concern after the murder of V. Selvaraj, a journalist with the biweekly “Nakkeeran”. Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary general, urged him to do everything possible to establish “the exact motives for the murder.” RSF asked the head minister […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the head minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr. Karunanidhi, RSF expressed its concern after the murder of V. Selvaraj, a journalist with the biweekly “Nakkeeran”. Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary general, urged him to do everything possible to establish “the exact motives for the murder.” RSF asked the head minister to inform it of progress in the inquiry.
According to information obtained by RSF, Selvaraj, a correspondent for the private biweekly “Nakkeeran” in Perambalur (Tamil Nadu State), was shot dead on 31 July 2000, near the Perambalur bus station. Eight suspects were caught by police on the road between Perambalur and Chennai, just forty-five minutes after the crime was committed. Police stated that the motive behind the crime had not been established. But R. Gopal, editor of the newspaper, present in Perambalur, said that it was “a warning to those who fight to reveal the truth.” He also noted that it was a “calculated and cold blooded murder.” The murder occurred the same day as the kidnapping of the film star Dr. Rajkumar by a Tamil bandit called Veerappan. This kidnapping provoked riots in Karnataka state. The offices of four Tamil newspapers were ransacked by crowds in Bangalore (Karnataka State capital). Gopal, who previously met Veerappan, has been appointed to negotiate the actor’s release.
