Uttar Pradesh: Journalist couple consume poison, Alleging harassment after corruption report

June 1, 2025 by News Desk

A Muslim journalist couple from Pilibhit, Israr and his wife Miraj, are in critical condition after allegedly consuming poison.

The act followed a sustained period of harassment, which they claim was triggered by Israr’s investigative report exposing corruption in a road construction project in the Barkheda area.

In a distressing video message shared on social media moments before the incident, the couple directly accused Bisalpur Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Nagendra Pandey, Barkheda Nagar Panchayat Chairman Shyam Bihari Bhojwal, and contractor Moin of orchestrating false charges and sustained intimidation. The video has since gone viral, sparking outrage across journalist circles and among civil rights groups.

Israr stated that his report on the alleged irregularities in the road project prompted Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to take notice, which led to punitive backlash.

He claimed that a fabricated extortion case was lodged against him on May 19 at the behest of the contractor, with backing from the SDM and the Panchayat chairman. He further alleged that police conducted repeated raids at their residence, worsening the couple’s mental and emotional stress.

“We are being harassed only because we exposed the truth,” Israr said in the video, appealing directly to the Chief Minister for justice and accountability.

Following the viral video, the couple was rushed to the district hospital in Pilibhit, where doctors confirmed they remain in serious condition. Authorities have since launched an investigation into the incident, including the extortion charges and the allegations made in the video.

Police confirmed that the couple had been on the run since the extortion case was registered. The City Officer of Bisalpur stated that both are under medical supervision and the matter is being probed thoroughly.

The incident has triggered condemnation from local journalists, activists, and civil society members, who are calling for an impartial investigation and protection for journalists reporting on corruption and local governance failures.

The case has also reignited broader concerns about press freedom and journalist safety in Uttar Pradesh, a state where reporters frequently face legal and physical intimidation for their work.