The Ultimate Price: Is Exposing Corruption a Death Sentence in India?

In 2025, the grim tally of journalists killed for doing their jobs continues to rise. The brutal murder of CH Naresh Kumar in Odisha is the latest, chilling reminder that for those investigating local corruption—like road construction fraud (Mukesh Chandrakar in Chhattisgarh) or land scams (Raghvendra Bajpai in UP)—silencing the messenger is becoming a dangerously common tactic.

CH Naresh Kumar was reportedly lured to a spot near his village and attacked with a sword by unidentified assailants. His crime? Upholding the truth.

This cycle of violence, where journalists pay with their lives to hold power accountable, is an attack on the very pillars of democracy. The time for deliberation is over. We demand immediate and decisive action from all levels of government to stop this reign of impunity.

We demand the immediate enactment of a robust Journalist Protection Act to safeguard those who risk everything for the truth.

Given the recurring pattern of journalists (like CH Naresh Kumar, Mukesh Chandrakar, and Raghvendra Bajpai) being targeted and murdered shortly after reporting on local corruption, what concrete, nationwide legal or security framework is the government prepared to implement immediately to dismantle the culture of impunity and safeguard investigative reporters in rural areas?

#SafetyFirst #OdishaMedia #StopKillingJournalists