Ghaziabad-Based Journalist Shot For Protesting Niece’s Harassment

Assailants shot Ghaziabad-based journalist Vikram Joshi on Monday night near his home in Vijay Nagar and he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning. The attack occurred four days after he had filed a complaint against some men for allegedly molesting his niece.

The police have nabbed nine people so far and a manhunt for another one is underway. The Ghaziabad police registered an FIR under the Sections 307, 34, 506 of the India Penal Code.

“The report by the DSP rank officer will be submitted and strict action would be taken,” SSP Ghaziabad Kalanidhi Naithani told the Indian Express.

 What You Should Know

• Assailants shot Ghaziabad-based journalist Vikram Joshi on Monday night and he succumbed to his injuries on Wednesday morning.
• The attack occurred four days after he had filed a complaint against some men for allegedly molesting his niece.
• The police have nabbed nine people so far and a manhunt for another one is underway. The Ghaziabad police registered an FIR under the Sections 307, 34, 506 of the India Penal Code.

Also Read: Five Girls Reveal Why Teens Don’t Open Up About Facing Sexual Harassment

One of the perpetrators had allegedly harassed Joshi’s 17-year-old niece when she had ventured out to buy groceries. He had allegedly beaten up her younger brother when he resisted the attacker. Joshi reportedly confronted him and consequently, the two had a scuffle, according to the investigators.

"A few men were harassing his niece a few days ago and my brother had opposed it. He also filed a police complaint. A case was also registered following which he was shot by those miscreants,” Joshi's brother, Aniket Joshi told Mumbai Mirror. Joshi, a journalist associated with a Hindi newspaper, had suffered a bullet injury on his head.

The station in-charge has also been suspended and a departmental inquiry has been initiated because the family of the journalist alleged inaction by the police. A group of journalists had also staged a protest alleging the same. Five out of the nine men arrested have a criminal history.  

CCTV footage has captured the gruesome attack on Vikram Joshi wherein assailants shot him in front of his two daughters. It raises questions about the basic safety of women and the prevalence of law and order in the country.

 Also Read: Kerala: Police Booked Seven People Including Father For Sexually Abusing A Minor Girl

Ria Chakraborty is an intern with SheThePeople.TV