New Delhi: A shocking incident unfolded in Pilibhit, Uttar Pradesh, on Thursday, as a local journalist and his wife reportedly consumed poison on camera, alleging relentless harassment by a sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), a nagar panchayat chairman, and a contractor.
The couple is currently receiving urgent medical attention at the district hospital, with the journalist reported to be out of danger, but his wife is in critical condition.
Identified as Israr, the journalist made grave accusations in the purported video, claiming he and his wife were driven to this extreme step due to continuous pressure from Bisalpur sub-divisional magistrate Nagendra Pandey, Barkheda nagar panchayat chairman Shyam Bihari Bhojwal, and contractor Moin Hussain.
Israr alleged that the harassment began after he published a news report exposing alleged corruption within the Barkheda nagar panchayat, which, he claimed, even caught the attention of the Chief Minister’s Office.
Following this, he asserted, the accused individuals subjected his family to threats and falsely implicated them in a legal case. In a desperate plea captured on video, Israr exclaimed, “We are drinking poison and ending our lives. Yogi ji, we need justice!”
The disturbing video quickly went viral, prompting responses from the accused parties. SDM Pandey, while acknowledging the incident, dismissed the allegations as “baseless” and claimed “there is no such issue,” stating he has directed the Barkheda Station House Officer to investigate.
Bisalpur Circle Officer Prateek Dahiya confirmed that police are conducting a thorough investigation from all angles. Chairman Bhojwal also denied involvement, suggesting a possible dispute with the contractor.
“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.
However, contractor Moin Hussain offered a counter-narrative, claiming that Israr had visited one of his construction sites on May 18, allegedly demanding Rs 15,000 and threatening negative news coverage if his demand wasn’t met. Hussain also accused Israr of using abusive language and issuing death threats, stating he had filed a police complaint regarding the incident.
The couple’s family members have corroborated Israr’s claims, insisting that the pair faced continuous harassment and false accusations, with alleged police complicity. They are demanding that a case be registered against the three individuals named by Israr in the video, urging a comprehensive and impartial investigation into the deeply concerning incident.
