- By Nidhi Giri
- Fri, 30 May 2025 10:44 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
A Pilibhit journalist and his wife attempted suicide by consuming poison and posted a video on social media accusing Bisalpur sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Nagendra Pandey, Barkheda nagar panchayat chairman Shyam Bihari Bhojwal and contractor Moin Hussain of harassment. In the purported video, Israr claimed that he had recently published a news report on an alleged corruption in the Barkheda nagar panchayat, which he claimed caught the attention of the Chief Minister's Office.
The duo consumed poison on camera on Thursday, police said, as per a PTI report. The couple was rushed to the district hospital, where Israr is said to be out of danger while his wife is in a critical condition, an officer said.
Israr alleged that Hussain, Bhojwal and Pandey continuously threatened the family and falsely implicated them in a case.
"We are drinking poison and ending our lives. Yogi ji, we need justice," Israr said in the video.
In response, SDM Pandey told media that he has directed the Barkheda Station House Officer to investigate. He rejected the allegations as "baseless" and said "there is no such issue."
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Bhojwal in a statement said that he has no involvement in the incident. "I have come to know about the incident, but I have nothing to do with it. There may have been some dispute with the contractor," he said, as quoted by PTI.
Contractor Hussain defended himself by claiming that Israr had visited one of his construction sites on May 18 and allegedly demanded Rs 15,000, and threatened to publish a negative news report if his demand was not met. Hussain claimed that Israr used abusive language and issued death threats. He added that he had filed a complaint with the police following the incident.
(With PTI Inputs)