UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has called for an investigation into the death of journalist Sulabh Srivastava, whose body was found on the evening of 13 June in Pratapgarh district, in the state of Uttar Pradesh, northern India.
I am gravely concerned about the death of Sulabh Srivastava. I call on the Indian authorities to investigate this case to find out whether the reporter’s death was connected to his professional activities. Journalists must be able to work without fearing for their safety.
Srivastava was a reporter for ABP News and ABP Ganga. A day before his death, in a letter to state officials, he expressed concerns for his life and safety after receiving threats by local crime linked to his reporting. In the letter, he stated that he felt unsafe and asked for protection for his family.
UNESCO promotes the safety of journalists through global awareness-raising, capacity building and a range of actions, notably in the framework of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity.
- See also: UNESCO observatory of killed journalists
- Media contact: Guilherme Canela de Souza Godoi