Nine Indian reporters were among 110 journalists killed around the world in 2015. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has dubbed India as “Asia’s deadliest country” for media personnel, ahead of both Pakistan and Afghanistan. Of the nine, some of them were reporting on organised crime and its links with politicians and others for covering illegal mining. It said five journalists were killed in the course of their work and four for undetermined reasons.

The report said, “the inadequacy of the Indian authorities’ response is reinforcing the climate of impunity for violence against journalists“.

All over the world.  67 journalists were killed in the line of duty and another 43 died in circumstances that were unclear. Another 27 non-professional “citizen-journalists” and seven other media workers were also killed. Two-thirds were killed in countries ‘at peace’.

Meanwhile, US-based Committee to Protect Journalists in its annual report said that Syria followed by France and Brazil are the top three deadliest countries for journalists.  Nine of those killings took place in France, which was second only to Syria as the most dangerous country for the press in 2015, said the report, according to which 40 per cent journalists died at the hands of Islamic militant groups such as Al-Qaeda and Islamic State.

In 2015 India was ranked 136 out of 180 nations worldwide in terms of Press Freedom Index.