Journalists Killed in 2015 - Motive Unconfirmed: Hemant Yadav

Committee to Protect Journalists, Journalists Killed in 2015 - Motive Unconfirmed: Hemant Yadav, 29 December 2015, https://www.refworld.org/reference/annualreport/cpj/2015/108464 [accessed 21 July 2026]
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TV24
October 3, 2015, in Dheena, India

Yadav, a reporter for the privately owned Hindi-language news channel TV 24, was shot as he returned home from a market on October 3 in Dheena, in the Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh, according to Agence France-Presse. Two attackers on a motorcycle fired at the journalist and then fled, according to reports.

CPJ was unable to determine what Yadav, 45, covered at the TV channel, which covers local and national news. TV 24 did not immediately reply to CPJ's message requesting comment. CPJ could not determine if the journalist had received any threats before his murder.

Sub-inspector Raj Kumar Singh, from Dheena, told AFP, "It seems to be a case of revenge. The deceased was reportedly quite active socially and used to take up various causes of locals who approached him." The inspector added: "It is possible that he could have antagonized someone by his activism, which led to his murder."

Police are investigating but no arrests have yet been made, according to reports.

CPJ has documented a spate of attacks against the press in Uttar Pradesh in 2015. In June Jagendra Singh was murdered in direct retaliation for his work. Also in June Haider Khan was beaten and dragged behind a motorbike, CPJ research shows. The violence led critics to question whether Uttar Pradesh was growing increasingly unsafe for journalists, according to news reports.

Motive Unconfirmed: CPJ is investigating to determine whether the death was work-related.

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