Attacking A Journalist Is Equivalent To Suppressing Their Voice?

If the question is, "Attacking a journalist equivalent to suppressing their voice?" The clear answer is yes. But the journalists who work with complete dedication and expose the truth of the system or the society are bound to encounter the consequences. Wait! This is not only a national issue but an international issue as well. Whenever a journalist opposes any politician, reports on corruption, or exposes the brutal truth of the society, they are often murdered, or subjected to legal action, or threatened with death, all in an effort to halt their work that exposes the most horrific aspects of society and raises awareness about the state of democracy in any nation. Today, the unfortunate truth is that individuals desire to know and often blame journalists for not engaging in fair reporting. Can anyone answer those who stood for the truth why they were murdered and why no one stood up for them? After all of these media consider as fourth pillar of democracy.

Journalist Power: In India, the constitution specifies that the Article 19 (1) all citizens the right to freedom of speech  and expression. Further, the judiciary has interpreted this to include the freedom of press, which is considered a cornerstone of media freedom in India. 

As per the Article 19 (1) Journalist Freedom of press enables as follows:- 

• Publish and circulate information without censorship
• Receive and disseminate information 
• Criticize the government 
• Voice diverse opinions and bridge divides within society. 

Subsequently, there are some limitation and restriction for the journalist Article 19 (2) allows the state to impose reasonable restrictions on this freedom for specific reasons, including:- 

• Sovereignty and integrity of India 
• Security of the State 
• Friendly relations with foreign states 
• Contempt of Court and defamation 
• Incitement to an offence 

Meanwhile, in early 2024 the Apex Court (Supreme Court) passed two interim orders. SC believes that journalists, in exercising their freedom of speech and expression as granted under Article 19 (1) of the Constitution of India should be able to express criticism of the government and their policies. 

Read the SC verdict in favour of the journalists Mr. Abhishek  Upadhyay and Mamta Tripathi https://www.obhanandassociates.com/blog/criminal-cases-cannot-be-filed-against-journalists-merely-because-their-writings-amount-to-criticism-of-the-government/

Here are list of the Journalist who were targeted by the some politicians, local leaders, attack through legal procedures:-  

Jagendra Singh: A freelance journalist who died after allegedly being set on fire by police in 2015. He was reporting on a local minister.

Gauri Lankesh: A veteran journalist known for her criticism of right-wing extremism, she was shot dead outside her home in 2017.

C.H. Naresh Kumar: A journalist who was murdered in Odisha in 2025.

Mukesh Chandrakar: A freelance journalist found murdered in a septic tank in Chhattisgarh in 2025.

Umesh Rajput: An investigative journalist who was shot dead in Chhattisgarh in 2011.

Akshay Singh: An investigative reporter who died unexpectedly in 2015 while working on a major corruption scandal in Madhya Pradesh.

Chennakesavulu: A known journalist from  Andhra Pradesh who was killed after he exposed a police officer's involvement in a smuggling ring.

Siddique Kappan: A Kerala based journalist was arrested under an anti-terrorism law while travelling to cover a gang rape and murder case in Uttar Pradesh.

Nikhil Wagle: A journalist whose car was allegedly attacked by political party workers in 2025 after he criticized the Prime Minister.

Shiv Aroor: A journalist and an anchor from news channel has to encounter a criminal complaint against him filed by the Congress Party leader Pawan Khera accusing him of making a malicious attempt to defame the Congress Party. 

Santu Pan: A Journalist from renowned news channel was arrested by the Kolkata police during the live coverage in West Bengal's SandeshKhali. 

Every common person, or the democracy of the India, expects the media and journalist to deliver or provide reliable, relevant, and accurate information to keep them informed about the nation. But rather than receiving appreciation, journalist were targeted and also been ignore by the democracy.

Image Credit: Chatgpt

As per the CPJ (Committee to Protect Journalist) reports, more than 30% of journalist murders in past decade remain unsolved, further emphasising global impunity. The Committee also discovered that reporting in remote and rural areas in India face a risk of threats and violence. 

You can read the Report of Committee to Protect Journalist https://gijn.org/stories/cpj-impunity-lack-of-solidarity-expose-indian-journalists-to-attack/#:~:text=Freelancer%20Jagendra%20Singh%2C%20who%20died,land%20grabs%20and%20a%20rape.

It high time for the media organization and the entire media fraternity to counterattack for any journalist who faces attacks due to their work. Conveniently, media houses must actively challenge the system whenever a journalist is assaulted for their professional endeavours. 

Lets's highlight the one incident that shook the entire world: Jamal Khashoggi, an international journalist whose assassination has sparked numerous questions and also confused everyone as to why he has been killed. So, basically in 2018, Jamal Khashoggi, opposed the Saudi regime. Though, it was reported that he was murdered by agents of the Saudi government at their consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. It has been said that Khashoggi was ambushed and strangled by a team of 15 Saudi operatives. 

Further, his remains were dismembered and disposed of in a manner that has never been disclosed to the public. The Turkish government has secretly installed listening devices in the consulate, and Khashoggi's last moments were recorded in audio, with transcripts later released to the public. 

You can read the entire incident through this link : https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Assassination_of_Jamal_Khashoggi

Meanwhile, looking into reports  in which numerous journalist were attack and killed, it is crucial to recognize that the killing of a journalist raises significant concern regarding press freedom.