In a shocking incident from Dehradun, the operator of a digital news platform and an associate have been taken into custody by the police. The arrests are linked to the alleged brutal assault and subsequent death of a fellow digital journalist, Pankaj Mishra, at his residence earlier this week.
Chilling Details of the Assault Emerge
The tragic sequence of events began on Monday night around 10 pm at Pankaj Mishra's house in Doon Vihar, Jakhan. According to the complaint filed by the victim's brother, Arvind Mishra, several individuals, including Amit Sehgal (51) and Mumbai resident Parthoshil (45), forcibly entered the home.
The accused allegedly subjected Pankaj to verbal abuse and a severe physical attack. Arvind's complaint states that Amit Sehgal repeatedly kicked and punched Pankaj on his chest and abdomen, causing blood to ooze from his mouth. Disturbingly, one of the assailants reportedly instructed others to target Pankaj's chest and stomach specifically, citing his known heart and liver conditions. Sehgal is alleged to have remarked that the assault was enough to "finish him."
Following the attack, the assailants snatched Pankaj's mobile phone. When his wife tried to call the police, her phone was also taken, and she was allegedly harassed before the group fled the scene. Pankaj later managed to contact the police using a passerby's phone. Although officers reached the spot, no immediate arrests were made that night.
Death and Swift Police Action
In the early hours of Tuesday, around 3 am, Pankaj Mishra complained of intense pain and collapsed. He was rushed to Doon Hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Based on Arvind Mishra's complaint, the Rajpur police station registered a First Information Report (FIR) on Tuesday. The accused have been booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 103 (murder), 304 (snatching), 333 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace).
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajai Singh announced the arrests on Wednesday. "Based on the evidence and statements recorded so far, Amit Sehgal and Parthoshil have been arrested," Singh stated. He added that teams from the cyber cell, Special Operations Group (SOG), and the forensic department have been deployed to ensure a comprehensive and transparent investigation. Police are also working to determine the motive behind the alleged assault.
Family Demands Fresh Post-Mortem
Dissatisfied with the initial post-mortem report, the victim's brother, Arvind Mishra, met with SSP Ajai Singh to demand a fresh examination. Following this, a second post-mortem was conducted on Wednesday by a panel of doctors. The results of this new autopsy are currently awaited.
The case has sent ripples through the local media community in Uttarakhand, highlighting concerns over the safety of journalists. The police investigation is ongoing as authorities piece together the full narrative behind this tragic event.
