UP: Journalist beaten to death over Diwali advertisement dispute

A 60-year-old Hindi newspaper journalist died after being allegedly assaulted by a group of people in Uttar Pradesh’s Hapur district following a dispute over a Diwali advertisement, police said.

Mohammad Naseem Ahmad, the bureau chief of Dainik Janvani, was attacked on Sunday afternoon near a flour mill on Jarothi Road in the Hapur Dehat police station area.

According to the complaint lodged by his son-in-law, Dr Shahrukh, Ahmad had visited the mill with colleagues to seek an advertisement for the newspaper. A disagreement reportedly broke out after the businessman declined the request and questioned the group’s journalistic credentials.

The complaint alleges that the businessman, his son, two other identified individuals and four to five unidentified people abused the group. When Ahmad objected, the accused allegedly assaulted him with kicks and punches, repeatedly striking his chest and other parts of his body.

Shahrukh said he learnt of the incident through a phone call from his wife, who informed him that her father had been attacked. Upon reaching a community health centre, he spoke to those who had accompanied Ahmad to the mill.

Police confirmed the journalist’s death and said two people had been detained for questioning. Hapur Superintendent of Police Madhuban Kumar said the assault stemmed from a dispute over an advertisement.

Further legal action will follow the investigation, police said.