United Nations: A top UN official has condemned the murder of Indian journalist Chandrika Rai, calling for a thorough probe to bring the perpetrators of the "shocking crime" to justice.
Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, said authorities in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh, where Rai had lived and worked, must ensure the murder is investigated.
Rai is the 8th journalist killed in India since 2008 to be listed on UNESCO`s dedicated webpage, `UNESCO Remembers Assassinated Journalists. "I condemn the murder of investigative journalist Chandrika Rai and his family," Bokova said in a statement.
"It is essential for the preservation of freedom of expression and press freedom that the authorities in Madhya Pradesh make all efforts to investigate this matter and that the perpetrators of this shocking crime be brought to justice," Bokova said.
Rai was found dead with his wife and two children in their home in Madhya Pradesh on February 18.
A freelance journalist, Rai, 43, regularly published articles in newspapers in the state capital Bhopal. He had recently exposed illegalities in coal trade in the region, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ).
In 2011, UNESCO and IFJ provided training in conflict and human rights reporting to 60 journalists in Chhattisgarh, Orissa and Jharkhand states.
PTI