Journalist Israr Ahmed and his wife, Miraj, tried to end their life, accusing SDM Nagendra Pandey and Nagar Panchayat President Shyam Bihari Bhojwal of harassment and abuse of power.
LUCKNOW — A disturbing incident has come to light from Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh, where Israr Ahmed, a journalist and his wife Miraj attempted suicide by consuming poison. The couple’s act has shocked the community and raised serious questions about the misuse of authority by local officials.
Israr, a journalist from Barkheda town, claims that he was falsely implicated in an extortion case in collusion with the Nagar Panchayat President Shyam Bihari Bhojwal and the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Bisalpur, Nagendra Pandey. The couple is currently admitted to the district hospital in critical condition.
Speaking from his hospital bed via a live social media video before losing consciousness, Israr said, “I have been targeted and harassed because I spoke out against the poor construction work being done by the Nagar Panchayat. The contractor Moin, along with the Nagar Panchayat President and the SDM, have framed me in a false extortion case to silence me.”
The situation escalated after police registered a case based on the contractor Moin’s complaint. Since then, Israr and his wife had been hiding from the police raids seeking his arrest. Unable to bear the pressure and mental torture, they chose the extreme step of attempting suicide.
Miraj Ahmed expressed her anguish in the live video: “We have been running from injustice. Despite raising our voice for truth and better public work, we were met with harassment. The officials involved have no right to misuse their position to crush honest voices.”
Local residents of Barkheda have voiced their concern about the administration’s handling of the matter. One villager said, “It is tragic that a journalist who tried to serve the public by exposing corruption is now fighting for his life because of powerful officials.”
The police and administration arrived quickly after receiving information about the suicide attempt. The police have started investigating the allegations seriously, but the community demands swift justice and an end to such misuse of power by local Hindu officials.
Political observers and press freedom advocates have condemned the incident. A senior journalist from the region said, “This case is a glaring example of how journalists face threats and false cases for merely exposing corruption and poor governance. The role of the Nagar Panchayat President and the SDM must be thoroughly examined.”
