Seven Journalists Jailed in India This Year, Highest Since 1992, Says CPJ Report

The CPJ report also revealed that five journalists were killed in India this year, the highest since 2018.

The report said seven journalists had been jailed in India in 2021 (Representational)

New Delhi: A record number of journalists were jailed in India this year, a report by the nonprofit Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said. 

The report said seven journalists had been jailed in India in 2021, which is the highest in the country since CPJ began its prison census in 1992.

"Five out of seven journalists are being investigated under/charged under terrorism-related Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Four journalists have been in jail for more than a year and have been repeatedly denied bail," the report said.

The report also revealed that five journalists were killed in India this year, the highest since 2018. Four of the five are local television journalists.

At four, India had the highest number of journalists murdered in retaliation for their work, the report said. Raman Kashyap was killed while covering a protest. Four of the five are local television journalists.

The CPJ's annual census on journalists imprisoned or killed lists India in the 13th spot.

The report comes at a time when several journalists and activists have accused the government of snooping using the NSO Group’s Pegasus spyware. The government has denied such claims.

The CPJ report also revealed that the number of jailed journalists hit a new record in 2021, with 293 reporters imprisoned as of December 1 this year. This is the sixth consecutive year where over 250 journalists were imprisoned.

"It reflects two inextricable challenges – governments are determined to control and manage information, and they are increasingly brazen in their efforts to do so," CPJ executive director Joel Simon said in a statement.

Moreover, 24 journalists were killed due to their reporting. While 18 other casualties were also recorded, it could not be confirmed whether they were targeted for their work, the report said.

China continued to occupy the top spot in imprisoning journalists for the third year in a row. In 2021, 50 journalists were jailed, the report said. Myanmar is at second with 26 jailed journalists, followed by Egypt (25), Vietnam (23), Belarus (19).

The report said Mexico was the deadliest country for reporters, with three of them killed for their work. Six other deaths are currently being investigated by the CPJ in Mexico, where journalists are often targeted if their work involves criminal gangs or corrupt officials.