Journalist, Wife Attempt Suicide In UP Amid Harassment For Publishing Report Exposing Corruption
Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh: A journalist from Uttar Pradesh and his wife consumed poison after facing harassment from the authorities for publishing a report on the corruption in road construction in Barkhera Nagar Panchayat. The journalist has lamented that he was left with no option.
Israr Hussain, the journalist working for the newspaper Dainik Kesariya Hindustan, and his wife, Miraj from Kasba Barkheda, attempted suicide by consuming poison on camera in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilibhit district on Thursday, May 29.
The video, which the couple recorded before consuming the poison, accuses Bisalpur Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Nagendra Pandey, Barkheda Nagar Panchayat Chair Shyam Bihari Bhojwal, and contractor Moin Hussain of harassing them “so relentlessly that we were forced to take this step.”
After publishing the report, the chief minister took cognizance of the news, and the accused people, couple alleges, managed to get a false case registered against Israr on May 19, and were harassed in many other ways too. They also claimed that the police had admitted the “pressure” behind to lodge FIR against him.
In the video, the couple can be seen consuming poison, and after the video went viral, the relatives came to know about the incident and rushed the couple to the district hospital. The duo is currently receiving treatment at the district hospital, and their condition is reportedly stable.
In the report, the journalist had alleged that substandard bricks were used in a road project in the Panchayath and SDM Nagendra Pandey was complicit in the act. The contractor has, however, denied the allegations, while filing a complaint against Israr, claiming that the journalist came to his work site and demanded Rs 15,000.
“When I refused, he threatened to publish fake news against me and resorted to hooliganism. He even threatened to kill me,” Newslaundry quoted the contractor. He further added that he is a government contractor currently executing road and drain construction in wards 8 and 9.
Based upon the contractor’s complaint, an FIR was filed against Israr under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including sections 308(2), 352, and 351(3), alleging extortion and criminal intimidation.
Read Also: Kerala Journalist Who Covered Protest Against Chief Minister Booked, Journalists Condemn Government
However, in the video, Israr appealed to chief minister Yogi Adityanath for justice, stating that the police came to his house and assaulted his family.
“We are taking this step of consuming poison. Yogi ji, we deserve justice,” the journalist can be heard saying in the video.
उत्तर प्रदेश के पीलीभीत में मुस्लिम पत्रकार दंपति इसरार और पत्नी मिराज ने अधिकारियों द्वारा प्रताड़ित किए जाने का आरोप लगाते हुए जहर खा लिया है।
ज़हर खाने से पहले से पहले उन्होंने एक वीडियो बनाया, जिसमें उन्होंने बीसलपुर के एसडीएम नागेंद्र पांडे, बरखेड़ा नगर पंचायत चेयरमैन श्याम… pic.twitter.com/RAYBXXiUoJ
— Madan Mohan Soni – (आगरा वासी) (@madanjournalist) May 29, 2025
Israr’s colleague Bhiru Gautam has said that the case against the journalist was false, and he is innocent, noting that Israr had not even met the contractor.
Dainik Kesariya Hindustan editor Ravindra Singh Pawaiya has said that they will take the matter to the Press Council of India.
“When the FIR was filed against Israr, we immediately contacted the Pilibhit SSP, who assured a fair investigation. Despite that, constant police pressure pushed him to this point. We will take this matter to the Press Council of India. This fight isn’t over.” Newslaundry quoted the editor.
