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Head of UNESCO deplores killing of another Indian journalist

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with defending press freedom has condemned the killing of Indian journalist, Vikas Ranjan, the third media professional to be murdered in the South Asian country in recent weeks.

Mr. Ranjan, 32, was shot dead by three gunmen on 26 November outside his office in the north-eastern state of Bihar, where he wrote for the Hindi-language daily newspaper, Hindustan.

According to Reporters without Borders, Mr. Ranjan had spent the previous month investigating local drug trafficking before being gunned down in the town of Rosera, in the Samastipur district.

"Mr. Ranjan has paid with his life for the fundamental human right to freedom of expression, and for our right to be informed," said UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, in condemning the murder.

"Like so many journalists, he has shown courage and determination beyond the call of duty," added Mr. Matsuura.

Calling on local authorities to "spare no effort to bring to justice those responsible," he said that he trusted them to "stem the alarming recent increase in attacks on journalists in north-eastern India."

Topics: Freedom of expression,