Uttar Pradesh, India: A missing journalist's body was found in a gunny bag by the roadside in Bulandshahr on Monday. It was the fourth case of a journalist being murdered during the past 45 days in Uttar Pradesh, reports The Times of India.

 

The 28-year-old Zakaullah had been missing since last Friday. His body was found dumped in Chola locality under Kotwali Dehat police station of the district. Zakaullah was a resident of Khurja town, 20 km from Bulandshahr. The body bore multiple injury marks; it appeared the journalist was beaten to death. Police were clueless about the probable motive behind the murder and the identity of the assailants.

 

Last Friday Rakesh Sharma (50), a senior reporter with a Hindi daily, was shot dead by unidentified assailants in Etawah, hometown of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav. Before that two murders of journalists were reported from Banda and Lakhimpur Kheri. Despite Yadav's instructions, police have failed to make much headway in the cases.

 

Expressing concern over the increasing attacks on journalists, the UP Accredited Journalists' Association has asked Yadav to look into the matter personally and as soon as possible. "This is a new trend and if allowed to continue unchecked, such incidents are sure to come as a deterrent for journalists who are exposed to multiple risks while performing their duties and investigating issues," the association said in a letter to the CM.

 

natunbarta/AH