When the mainstream digital media has already touched rock bottom in terms of giving toxic spin to every other story, spreading hate, showing abject nonsense, and breeding false narratives, incidents like the heinous killing of Mukesh Chandrakar, Chhattisgarh's reporter and the owner of ‘Bastar Junction’ paints a grim future for the Indian media landscape.
India, doing phenomenally terrible in the Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index climbed up to 159th position in 2024 (slightly up from 161 in 2023. Slow claps!). Although the country has long rejected the indicator citing it a western conspiracy full of methodological flaws, gruesome acts of crime like the above make the ranking quite reasonable. Government may be having a substance in its say as top-notch journalists, channels and media houses like Ravish Kumar, the Newslaundry, the Wire, the Deshbhakt, Telegraph India etc, who have been hardcore critics and long (often rightly) questioned the policies of the government are continuously flying high into the skies of freedom. If Press Freedom in India was really in peril as there's much hullabaloo around, above organizations would have long got their offices permanently shut or their owners prosecuted {Ravish Kumar’s departure from his prime time show on NDTV (when the channel's majority shares were acquired by the Adani group) and starting his own independent YouTube channel does raise brows though}.
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However, no denying the fact that several journalists who have dared raising their voices against the incapacities and faulty policies of the government (centre or state), or its organs, be it Sidheeq Kappan or late Vinod Dua, all have been forced to face ugly legal battles under the alleged charges of UAPA or sedition (under the older IPC); before the judiciary, mostly the Apex Court coming in for their rescue. Exhausted with the languishing trial procedures, their morale eventually fades off, leading to the unfortunate defeat of an activist fighting for the cause that matter to you, me, and all of us.
I will agree with the fact that such selective prosecution and violent bashing of media is limited to India only. Similar instances have been witnessed across the globe (including various so-called developed nations). Killing of Saudi journalist, Jamal Khashoggi’s and the shooting at the Charlie Hebdo in France - journalists, especially the ones who fight against the criminal syndicates, or question the caste's or religion's archaic ill-practises have always been at the receiving end of govt's or public's ire. Not to mention their agony in the war-torn regions.
Back to India…cases like Mukesh Chandrakar’s, where he was allegedly killed by a local contractor for exposing his alleged corrupt practices must be condemned. The nationwide media fraternity should come together and lodge a strong protest, the police should leave no stone unturned in their investigation, the government should make sure that the culprits aren't spared at any cost, and the judiciary must reaffirm that bail is never a savior for those floundering the laws!
If not, sadly...there won't remain enough quality journalists to report on the Bharat's marvelous journey of becoming viksit by 2047. Period.