village, after militants threatened to kill him because of his journalistic work. Reporter Satya Sundar Mishra, 29, told BosNewsLife that the problems began when he investigated the alleged involvement of a senior politician in criminal activities, including murder and corruption, for regional newspaper Odisha Bhaskar, or ‘The sun of Bhaskar’.
"The politician, Yudhistir Samantarya, is the former leader and ex-parliamentarian of India ‘s ruling Congress Party in the state of Orissa. After the Congress Party lost [local] elections in Orissa, he soon became a leader in hiding to avoid arrest," the journalist said.
On July 9 and July 10 supporters of the politician apparently threatened to kill him, following the publication of the article. "I received threats over the phone," Mishra told BosNewsLife. "The phone number has been given to police."
POLICE RELUCTANT
Although Odisha Bhaskar staff supports him, police seems unwilling to find the suspects, the reporter alleged. Mishra said he is concerned about the plight of his 27-year old wife and his son of just two months , whom he was "forced" to leave behind in his village, just outside Orissa’s capital Bhubaneswar .
He said he has been "in hiding with friends" for more than two weeks. "I am in hiding because the militants have threatened to kill me. They also want to bomb and destroy my house," Mishra added.
BosNewsLife founder Stefan J. Bos said the news agency "is very concerned" about the situation of the journalist. " India likes to be seen as the largest democracy in the world. We therefore urge the national government, especially the Congress Party, and authorities in Orissa to immediately intervene," Bos stressed.
PROTECTION URGED
The BosNewsLife official said authorities “must ensure the protection of Satya Sundar Mishra and his safe return home. We also hope that police will soon find the suspects making these threats. It is not acceptable that a journalist is persecuted for his or her work."
Bos explained that Mishra had uncovered several cases of persecution of Christian believers and others in the state of Orissa. "He played for instance a key role in coverage surrounding the murder of Australian missionary Graham Steines and his two young sons, who were killed by an angry mob in the state of Orissa.”
Bos noted that Mishra works in an often volatile state. “I believe his work benefits Hindus, Christians and other groups at a time of rapid political and social changes in Orissa and the rest of India."
