UP Journalist, Wife Consume Poison On Camera Over 'Harassment' By SDM Over Reporting
Israr claimed in the purported video that he had recently published a news report on an alleged corruption in the Barkheda nagar panchayat, following which the trio began harassing them.
A journalist and his wife from Barkheda, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday attempted to die by suicide by consuming poison on camera, accusing a sub-divisional magistrate, a nagar panchayat chairman, and a contractor of harassment. The video, posted on social media Thursday, has since gone viral.
The couple, identified as journalist Israr and his wife, recorded a video naming Bisalpur sub-divisional magistrate Nagendra Pandey, Barkheda nagar panchayat chairman Shyam Bihari Bhojwal, and contractor Moin Hussain as the individuals responsible for pushing them to the brink. In the video, Israr claimed that the harassment began after he reported on alleged corruption within the local municipal body, news he says reached the Chief Minister's Office.
"We are drinking poison and ending our lives. Yogi ji, we need justice," Israr is heard saying in the footage.
He alleged that the trio continuously threatened his family and falsely implicated them in a fabricated case. Following the video, both Israr and his wife were rushed to the district hospital. According to police, Israr is currently stable, while his wife remains in critical condition.
Israr could be heard claiming in the purported video that he had recently published a news report on an alleged corruption in the Barkheda nagar panchayat, following which the harassment began. He claimed that Hussain, Bhojwal, and Pandey continuously threatened the family and falsely implicated them in a case.
SDM's Reaction On Journalist's Allegations
Responding to the explosive claims, SDM Nagendra Pandey labeled the allegations “baseless” and instructed the Barkheda police to conduct a thorough investigation. “There is no such issue,” Pandey stated, brushing aside the journalist’s accusations.
Similarly, municipal chairman Bhojwal distanced himself from the case, saying, “I have come to know about the incident, but I have nothing to do with it. There may have been some dispute with the contractor.”
Meanwhile, Contractor Moin Hussain offered a counter-claim, accusing Israr of attempting to extort him. He said the journalist had visited one of his construction sites on May 18, demanding Rs 15,000 and threatening to publish a damaging news report if the demand was not met. He even alleged that Israr used abusive language and issued death threats, adding that he had already filed a police complaint against Israr following this.
Family members of the couple spoke out, asserting that the couple had been subjected to persistent intimidation. They alleged that the named individuals, along with some members of the police, were part of a conspiracy to silence Israr by framing him in false cases.
Demanding immediate action, the family has called for an FIR to be registered against the three individuals named in the video. Bisalpur Circle Officer Prateek Dahiya confirmed that police are looking into all possible angles and that a comprehensive investigation is underway.
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