• Source:JND
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In a frightening incident, a 43-year-old journalist was shot dead in the Shahganj area of Jaunpur district Uttar Pradesh on Monday. The journalist identified as Ashutosh Srivastava of Sabarhad village was on his way to Imranganj market around 9.30 am when unidentified assailants shot him at the intersection near Jaunpur-Shahganj Road, Circle Officer (Shahganj) Ajit Singh Chauhan said. 

Srivastava had written to officers at the Shahganj police station a month ago and sought protection, however, the police did not pay heed to his request, news agency PTI reported citing family sources. 

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Following Srivastava’s murder, residents held a protest by blocking the road. The protest was lifted following assurances by officials that the matter would be looked into. Meanwhile, local journalists said Srivastava was writing against cow slaughter in the area. They also claimed that Srivastava had received several threats from smugglers and informed the police about these in writing.

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Superintendent of Police Ajay Pal Sharma asserted that a team has been deployed to nab the assailants. The Jaunpur Patrakar Sangh has also condemned the murder and demanded that the killers be arrested as soon as possible. 

The journalists’ body also demanded that the BJP-led state government should provide Rs 50 lakh in compensation to his family and said that  Srivastava was murdered due to the careless working style of the police. The journalists’ body also sought legal action against the police officers responsible.