sit-formed-to-probe-journalist-rajiv-pratap-s-death

A special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted by the Uttarakhand Police to probe the death of journalist Rajiv Pratap, whose body was recovered from the Bhagirathi river, officials said on Tuesday.

Rajiv Pratap was missing since the night of September 18, and his body was found on September 28 near Joshiada barrage in Uttarkashi district. His damaged vehicle was recovered from the river bank on September 20.

Earlier, police had claimed that he died due to internal injuries to his chest and abdomen, citing the postmortem report.

Director General of Police (DGP), Deepam Seth, said the SIT, which will be headed by the Uttarkashi deputy superintendent of police, will examine all aspects of the case including CCTV footage, electronic evidence, call details, a technical evaluation of his car and statements of people last seen with the journalist.

 

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Seth said the SIT will also probe Pratap’s family’s claims that he had received threatening calls, though no complaint has been lodged in this regard yet, he added. He added that an FIR for abduction was lodged based on the complaint filed by the journalist's family.

 

Journalist Rajiv Pratap was the founder and ran the digital news platform Delhi Uttarakhand Live. He was an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), and was known for his investigative reporting in Uttarakhand.  

The DGP said that police had launched a massive search, with the help of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), drones and dog squads upon receiving information about Pratap's disappearance on September 19.

According to Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police, Sarita Dobal, the post-mortem report attributed the cause of death to internal injuries to the chest and abdomen, consistent with an accident. No external injury marks were found, she said.

The formation of the SIT followed demands from opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who termed Pratap's death "tragic" and called for an "immediate, impartial and transparent" probe.

In a post on X, Rahul Gandhi had said, "There should be an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation into Rajiv ji's death, and the victim's family should receive justice without delay."