India: Journalist fatally shot

Broadcast journalist Salman Ali Khan was fatally shot by unknown assailants in the western Rajgarh district of Madhya Pradesh, India on September 17. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Indian Journalists Union (IJU), in strongly condemning the killing and urging the Indian government to conduct an immediate, transparent, and thorough investigation.

Broadcast journalist Salman Ali Khan was fatally shot in Madhya Pradesh by unknown assailants on September 17. Credit: Facebook

On the evening of September 17, a print journalist Salman Ali Khan also associated with a YouTube channel was fatally shot by three unidentified assailants riding on a motorcycle outside a local hospital in Rajgarh District of Madhya Pradesh.

Khan was accompanied by his nine-year-old son while riding his scooter when three unknown attackers approached and opened fire. Khan sustained serious injuries and was rushed to hospital, but was was pronounced dead upon arrival.

Akansha Sharma, lead officer of Sarangpur police station, confirmed that a case has been registered under Section 103 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and further investigations are underway. This attack marks the second time Khan has been targeted in the past year. In February 2023, he received death threats and was attacked with a sword and knife due to personal enmity, leaving serious injuries to both him and his brother.

Khan is the third journalist killed in India in 2024, with journalist Shivshankar Jha killed in Bihar on June 25 by unknown assailants, and Sudarshan News reporter Ashutosh Srivastava fatally shot in Uttar Pradesh on May 13.

The IJU said: "The IJU demands justice for the slain journalists. IJU is concerned for the failure of the police to provide safeguards when the journalist was attacked, seriously injured, and then killed."

IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger said:"The IFJ strongly condemns the killing of Salman Ali Khan. State authorities must conduct a thorough and immediate investigation to ensure that those responsible are not allowed to escape with impunity."