Aaj Tak Journalist Aakashdeep Shukla commits suicide amid alleged mental trauma, threats
In a tragic turn of events, Aakashdeep Shukla, a journalist associated with Aaj Tak, was reported to have died by suicide on Monday.
The journalist allegedly faced considerable mental distress due to what has been described as "constant threats of criminal cases" from his wife and her parents. This disturbing revelation was brought to light by journalist and filmmaker Deepika Bhardwaj.
Based in Delhi, Aakashdeep Shukla reportedly took his own life by hanging himself at his residence in the city. Deepika Bhardwaj took to X (formerly Twitter) to convey the unfortunate news, stating that Shukla "killed himself today." According to Bhardwaj's tweet, she had conversed with Shukla, who held the position of an assistant editor with Aaj Tak since 2021, on the previous day.
Bhardwaj asserted that Shukla had been enduring mental turmoil due to alleged mistreatment by his wife and her parents. She further alleged that Shukla's court marriage had occurred under pressure and that he had been subjected to continuous threats of legal action.
During their Sunday conversation, Bhardwaj indicated that she assured Shukla they would find a resolution to the situation. Tragically, it appears that the senior journalist took his own life despite this reassurance.
"I spoke to @JournoAakash for 20 mins y'day. He told me about the mental trauma he's facing because of his wife & her parents. He was under constant threats of criminal cases. His court marriage was also done under pressure. I told him we will sort it. BUT HE KILLED HIMSELF TODAY," Bhardwaj conveyed in her tweet.
A close friend of Shukla, Jagrati Shukla, informed the Free Press Journal that the journalist had been under "a lot of stress due to his personal life." According to Jagrati, Shukla and his wife engaged in a heated argument on Monday morning, witnessed by another friend. Following the argument, he allegedly secluded himself in his room and took his own life.
In a subsequent tweet, Deepika Bhardwaj disclosed details of the events leading up to Shukla's alleged suicide, including allegations of physical assault. Shukla apparently confided in Bhardwaj that his wife had tarnished his reputation on social media by using derogatory language.
"Akash shared that the woman he got married to had sullied his image by calling him names on social media. He couldn't afford to lose his career so he compromised & did court marriage. Now his father-in-law was pressurising him to do a social function, spend lacs when he didn't have that kind of money," Bhardwaj's tweet outlined. "He was in deep stress clearly & was worried for his parents. He also felt he was the one who had brought this problem on to them. There's so much more he shared. He was physically assaulted too when they had fights. I am unable to comprehend this." (SIC)
I spoke to @JournoAakash for 20 mins y'day. He told me about the mental trauma he's facing because of his wife & her parents. He was under constant threats of criminal cases. His court marriage was also done under pressure. I told him we will sort it. BUT HE KILLED HIMSELF TODAY pic.twitter.com/mBL26AIDHd
— Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) August 14, 2023
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UP: Tehsildar's vehicle hits biker, drags body for 30 km
Bahraich(UP), Dec 20: A government vehicle belonging to the tehsildar of Nanpara hit a biker and allegedly dragged his body for 30 kilometers.
The victim, identified as Narendra Kumar Haldar (35), a resident of Payagpur, was returning home when the accident occurred on the Nanpara-Bahraich road on Thursday evening. According to police, Haldar's body got entangled in the vehicle and was dragged for the entire distance, reaching the Nanpara Tehsil.
Naib Tehsildar Shailesh Kumar Awasthi, who is believed to be present in the vehicle at the time of the accident, has been recommended for suspension by District Magistrate Monika Rani. The vehicle's driver, Meraj Ahmed, has been arrested. Superintendent of Police Vrinda Shukla confirmed the incident and said, "It was confirmed that the body was dragged for 30 kilometers to Nanpara when the locations of the deceased Narendra Haldar and the tehsildar's driver Meraj Ahmed were tracked at the time of the accident."
Stating that the incident was a "big negligence", the officer added, "It is very unlikely that a body was stuck in the vehicle for 30 kilometers and no one came to know about it. It is possible that the vehicle was not stopped due to fear."
The officer said that a thorough investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances of the accident. "Police are examining CCTV footage along the 30-kilometer route to reconstruct the sequence of events," said the SP.
In the police complaint lodge regarding the matter, the family members of the deceased have mentioned the vehicle of the tehsildar, police said.
District Magistrate Monika Rani said, "The matter of a car colliding with a bike came to notice. The Naib Tehsildar of Nanpara had come to Bahraich in the Tehsildar's car for some work and was returning to Nanpara. It has been learnt that a dead body got stuck with his car that drove till Nanpara Tehsil. According to the naib tehsildar, he was not aware of it. A recommendation has been made to suspend the naib tehsildar who was in the car."
