Foul play suspected after journalist Rajeev Pratap's death in Uttarakhand

The body of 36-year-old journalist Rajeev Pratap, who operated the YouTube channel DelhiUttarakhand Live, was found in a river in Uttarakhand on September 30.

His body was found nine days after he was last in contact with his wife on September 19.

His car was discovered near the Bhagirathi River on the same day, and his body was later recovered downstream at the Joshiyara hydroelectric barrage.

Pratap was known for his investigative reports on corruption, including a notable exposé on alcohol consumption at a hospital in Uttarakhand.

While police initially attributed his death to a car accident, Pratap’s family suspects foul play.

His wife, Muskan, told The Indian Express that Pratap had expressed anxiety after receiving death threats related to his reports on a hospital and a school.

“He was abducted by someone. I’m certain he didn’t just fall off the road,” she said, noting that a message she sent at 11:50 pm on September 19 went undelivered.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed condolences and ordered an investigation into the incident.

Media organisations, including the National Alliance of Journalists, the Press Club of India, the Delhi Union of Journalists, and the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (Delhi Unit), have demanded an urgent and transparent inquiry.

The Press Club condemned the incident, stating that “democracy itself is gravely imperilled” when journalists face retribution for their work. Kunāl Majumder, India representative for the Committee to Protect Journalists, urged authorities to thoroughly investigate the threats against Pratap and hold those responsible accountable, rather than dismissing the case as a mere accident.

The Indian Institution of Mass Communication also raised concerns on X, describing Pratap’s death as occurring under “mysterious circumstances” and calling for police transparency. However, some local reporters maintain that the incident was accidental.

Pratap’s death follows a troubling pattern of violence against journalists in India. Earlier this year, 28-year-old freelance journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, known for reporting on corruption and the Maoist conflict in Chhattisgarh, was found dead in a septic tank.

In 2023, investigative reporter Shashikant Warishe was killed in Maharashtra by an SUV driven by a real estate lobbyist linked to his investigations. In 2022, 26-year-old Subhash Kumar Mahto, who exposed the sand mafia in Bihar, was shot dead outside his home.