Vikram Joshi

Journalist

Uttar Pradesh

HRDA has issued an urgent appeal to the National Human Rights Commission of India on July 28, 2020 regarding negligence and refusal to register an FIR from Mr. Vikram Joshi leading to his murder. Mr. Joshi was a Ghaziabad-based journalist associated with Jansagar Today.

On July 16, 2020, Mr. Joshi complained about sexual harassment of his nieces to Mr. Rajeev Kumar Sehrawat, Station House Officer of Vijayanagar Police Station. Although Mr. Raghvendra Singh, chowki in-charge, received the complaint, he refused to provide any acknowledgement receipt, and the complaint was not registered. On July 18, Mr. Joshi complained to the SSP about the inaction of the Vijaynagar police station, after which he was called to the Pratap Vihar police chowki, where police personnel promised action against the perpetrators.  

Mr. Joshi was shot by a group of goons on July 20, when he was returning from his sister’s house with his daughters. His family members took him to the nearby hospital, where he was refused admission. He died after being admitted to another hospital, whereas personnel of the Vijaynagar police station did not take his sister’s plea regarding police inaction leading to his murder seriously. 

While police arrested nine people in connection with Mr. Joshi’s murder, the SHO of Vijaynagar police station was suspended for inaction.