Amnesty seeks probe into journalist's death
New Delhi: Rights organisation Amnesty International India on Monday sought an independent probe into "mowing down" of a journalist in Madhya Pradesh and demanded the state government bring the guilty to book and send out a clear message that such attacks will not be tolerated.
Reacting to reports of Sandeep Sharma, a journalist investigating illegal sand mining, being mowed down by a truck in Bhind, Madhya Pradesh, Asmita Basu, Programmes Director, Amnesty International India said the killing illustrates the risks that human rights defenders in India face.
She noted that the journalist had sought police protection after doing two 'sting' operations.
"An independent and impartial probe must investigate this murder. Many brave journalists, activists and whistleblowers have been harassed, threatened and killed for exposing human rights abuses and corruption," she said.
Basu said that in many cases, lives could have been saved if authorities had acted on reports of threats and other abuses.
"Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan needs to bring those responsible to book and send a clear message that these attacks will not be tolerated," she said.
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Delhi records high of 32.7 deg C; AQI remains 'moderate'
New Delhi (PTI): The maximum temperature in Delhi settled at 32.7 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 1.3 notches below the seasonal average, according to the India Meteorological Department.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 20.1 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 1.3 notches below the average for the season, while the relative humidity stood at 46 per cent at 5.30 pm, the IMD said.
The weather department has forecast a partly cloudy sky for Monday with the maximum and minimum temperatures expected to hover around 34 and 19 degrees Celsius, respectively.
The air quality remained 'moderate' at 4 pm, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 134, a slight drop from Saturday’s 137, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed.
According to the CPCB, an AQI between zero and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.
