Head of UN agency defending press freedom deplores murder of Indian journalist

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom today condemned the murder of Indian journalist Chaitali Santra and called for an investigation into her killing.

Ms. Santra was a correspondent in Howrah, West Bengal, for the Hindi-language weekly Julm se Jang, according to a news release issued by the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

She was killed on 26 September by a mail bomb that she opened in her home, the Paris-based UNESCO said. Her husband was severely injured in the blast. Family members reportedly said that she often received threats in connection with her reporting.

“I condemn the murder of Chaitali Santra and urge the authorities to investigate this crime,” said UNESCO Director-General Irina Bokova.

“Killing and intimidating media workers constitute an unacceptable attack on the basic human right of freedom of expression and on the media’s democratic right to work without fear or hindrance,” she stated. “It is therefore essential that the perpetrators of such crimes be brought to justice.”

The latest killing brings to 11 the number of journalists murdered in India since 2008, according to UNESCO.