Journalist Gunned Down in Broad Daylight in Sitapur, UP

A 35-year-old journalist and RTI activist, Raghvendra Bajpai, was brutally shot dead by bike-borne assailants on the Sitapur-Delhi National Highway on Saturday afternoon, sending shockwaves through the region. The attack, which occurred around 3:15 pm near the Hempur railway crossing overbridge in the Imalia Sultanpur police station area, has exposed vulnerabilities in Uttar Pradesh’s law-and-order situation.

Bajpai, a regional reporter for a prominent Hindi daily, was commuting on his motorcycle when three unidentified attackers opened fire, striking him with three bullets in the shoulder and chest. Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants, riding a single motorcycle, fled the scene immediately after the shooting, sparking panic among locals. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital with help from residents, Bajpai was declared dead on arrival. Doctors confirmed two bullets had pierced his upper abdomen.

Police have launched a manhunt, sealing district borders and forming four teams to apprehend the perpetrators. Additional Superintendent of Police (South) Praveen Ranjan Singh stated that initial findings suggest the killers tracked Bajpai’s routine. Family members revealed he had received threatening calls 10 days prior, linked to his reporting and activism—a claim now under investigation. Lucknow Range IG Prashant Kumar II visited Sitapur, assuring swift action.

The murder triggered outrage, with hundreds protesting at the postmortem house, demanding justice. UP Congress president Ajay Rai met Bajpai’s grieving family, calling it a “condemnable incident.” Posts on X reflect public anger, questioning the silence around journalist safety. Bajpai leaves behind a wife and two children. As the probe unfolds, this daylight killing underscores the risks faced by journalists in India, reigniting calls for stronger protections.