After almost two weeks since the celebrated Indian photojournalist working for Reuters, Danish Siddiqui was killed in Afghanistan, various international media reports over the last couple of days have raised speculation that the cause of death might not be as simple as the ‘caught in a crossfire’ theory which was originally floated and largely accepted, but due to a brutal revenge killing by the Taliban. The New York Times in its report which was also reproduced by a number of dailies in the Indian press on Sunday has mentioned that the Pulitzer-winning photojournalist’s body was badly mutilated while he was in the custody of the Taliban. In another sensational revelation, US news magazine Washington Examiner has even claimed that Danish did not die caught amid a crossfire, but was brutally killed by the Taliban. The new development warrants a thorough probe and since Danish was an Indian national, as per protocol, the government of India should raise the demand with the Afghan authorities and there shouldn’t be any doubt that international support would come in the process.

It can be concluded without an iota of doubt that the media reports hinting strongly towards a meticulously-planned murder angle of the photographer have no motive to generate sensationalism. The wide trust the NYT commands across the globe due to the quality of its reportage will be envied by any daily and the Washington Examiner report has been authored by Michael Rubin, a former US Defense Secretary Adviser. Narrating the details of the ‘happenings’ of July 16, the report penned by Rubin which incorporates on-ground inputs from local Afghan authorities says that it was after getting separated from the Afghan National Army team Danish was travelling with for covering the clashes in the Spin Boldak region in Kandahar district bordering Pakistan, he was compelled to take refuge at a religious place to receive first aid. The report further claims that the notorious Taliban militias attacked the hideout only since the photographer was present there and after catching him alive, executed brutally in their trade-mark fashion. While the report should serve as a catalyst for an in-depth review of the alleged murder, it has raised eyebrows since it has been critical of the US State Department for its ‘tragic accident’ interpretation. It has always remained a bitter truth in South Asian geo-politics that the Taliban has always been used as a tool by various nations since the 1980s including the US and particularly by Pakistan for implementing their propagandas involving bloodshed invariably which continues till today.

Government of India mustn’t keep mum and go all-out, bilaterally with Afghanistan as well as multi-laterally to dig out what actually caused the death of the son of the soil.

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List