Journalist shot dead after being hit by vehicle on Lucknow-Delhi Highway in Sitapur
Sitapur: A journalist and RTI activist, Raghavendra Bajpai, was shot dead on the Lucknow-Delhi National Highway in Sitapur on Saturday afternoon. The 35-year-old, who worked as a correspondent for a Hindi daily, was reportedly targeted in a planned attack.
Attack details
According to police sources, the assailants first rammed into Bajpai’s bike before shooting him three times. Initially, the incident was believed to be an accident, but doctors at the district hospital later found bullet wounds on his body, confirming it as a case of murder.
Bajpai had left home around noon after receiving a phone call. The attack took place at approximately 3:15 pm, and he died on the spot.
Investigation underway
Sitapur Police stated that a case has been registered based on a complaint from the victim’s family. "Three teams have been formed to track and arrest the accused," ASP South said in a video statement.
The motive behind the murder is yet to be established. Police are reviewing Bajpai’s call records and other evidence. The incident has sparked outrage among local journalists, who are demanding a thorough investigation and immediate action against the perpetrators.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
