A 54-year-old journalist, Laxmi Narayan Singh alias Pappu, was tragically hacked to death by unidentified attackers near a hotel in Prayagraj. The victim, who was also the nephew of former High Court Bar Association president Ashok Singh, was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon on Thursday evening. He was rushed to Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital in a critical condition, where doctors declared him dead. Police teams are now intensively examining CCTV footage from the area to identify the assailants, and a manhunt is underway to arrest those involved.

Following this brutal attack, what immediate measures are necessary to ensure the physical safety and protection of working journalists, especially those operating outside major metropolitan areas?