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ExploreFree Speech TrackerTrack Violations across Categories, States & Years

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The Free Speech Tracker is a database that records free speech violations in India across various categories. Tracked violations can be searched across categories, states or years. Categories covered include Arrests, Attacks, Censorship, Harassment, Internet Control, Killings, Lawfare, Policies/Regulations, and Threats.

Please visit the About Us page for a guide to free speech violations tracked by FSC,

Numbers are liable to change and violations may be reclassified in case of discrepancies in reporting or updates due to developments in ongoing cases. In case of updates or corrections and to report free speech violations, please contact us.

[Note: The data included currently is for 2025 as updates for previous years is under process. For details of previous years, please go to the Reports section.]

Violations

States

Year

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Attacks

Liquor smuggling sting: journalist Shubham Srivastava attacked; 2 held

State: Bihar

Year: 2025

Date: November 8, 2025

Attacks – Journalists

Two persons accused of attacking a news reporter while he was attempting a sting operation on liquor smuggling in Bihar by trains were arrested in Ballia district on Saturday.

Bairia CO Mohd Faheem Quaraishi said two accused, Sunny Singh and one other, were arrested for the attack on Shubham Srivastava.
…
Srivastava alleged that he was conducting a sting operation during which he recorded Sunny Singh, who claimed to be smuggling liquor consignments into dry state Bihar by train.

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Attacks

District Public Relations Officer (DPRO), Gupteshwar Kumar assaulted Pramod Kumar, reporter of Dainik Bhaskar

State: Bihar

Year: 2025

Date: May 6, 2025

Attacks – Journalists

The Khelo India Youth Games 2025 are being organized at the Rajgir Sports Complex from May 4th to May 15th. However, while district administration officials themselves were seated, enjoying the games, spectators were stopped at the main gate. This news was published in the Dainik Bhaskar newspaper.

Following this, the Nalanda DPRO, Gupteshwar Kumar, threatened journalist Pramod Kumar. However, Pramod Kumar published the shortcomings and negligence of the district administration in the organization of the games on the following day as well. Subsequently, On May 6th around 5 in the evening the Public Relations Officer, along with his associates, forcibly roughed up Pramod Kumar at the Sports Complex, grabbing his hand and neck, forcibly snatched his ID card issued by India Youth Games, and warned him not to return, threatening him with imprisonment. Since then, Pramod Kumar has been unable to cover the event.

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Attacks

Bihar: Journalist Krishnandan assaulted during election campaign in Magadh Mahila College

State: Bihar

Year: 2025

Date: March 26, 2025

Attacks – Journalists

In a shocking incident, unidentified men allegedly assaulted journalist Krishnandan inside Magadh Mahila College on Wednesday.

The incident took place when the journalist was on campus covering news related to the Patna University Students’ Union (PUSU) Election.

The Gandhi Maidan SHO confirmed the incident, stating that the victim filed an application against unknown persons.

“We have registered the FIR, and action will be taken to identify and apprehend the anti-social elements involved,” the SHO said.

Krishnandan was interviewing students who were expressing concerns about security issues on campus.

According to the journalist, students complained about feeling unsafe due to the frequent visits of politically affiliated youth groups amid the ongoing PUSU election campaign.

“While I was taking interviews of students, some youths belonging to a particular political organisation, who were present, attacked me,” Krishnandan said.

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Killings

Journalist Shivshankar Jha fatally stabbed in Bihar

State: Bihar

Year: 2024

Date: June 25, 2024

Killings – Journalists

Journalist Shivshankar Jha was fatally stabbed on June 25 in Bihar’s northwest, with Jha’s family claiming the killing was coordinated by an organised crime outfit. Jha, who worked for several Hindi media outlets, had complained to the police about severe threats to his life prior to the attack. According to local media reports, the family claimed that the local ‘liqour mafia’ an organised crime outfit distributing illicit alcohol, was responsible for Jha’s murder.

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Attacks

Bihar: Journalists attacked, belongings snatched during Mahagathbandhan rally in Patna

State: Bihar

Year: 2024

Date: March 3, 2024

Attacks – Journalists

An unruly mob allegedly attacked a group of journalists during Sunday’s Mahagathbandhan event at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, causing chaos and the loss of their mobile phones, wallets and microphones.The journalists, who had official entry passes, were covering the ‘Jan Vishwas Maha Rally’ when the incident occurred.

The situation unfolded as the crowd, energized by Tejashwi Yadav’s presence on stage, surged forward during the rally. The media gallery, situated in front of the stage and occupied by journalists with valid passes, faced an intrusion as the crowd overwhelmed security personnel.

Several journalists reported the theft of their belongings, prompting them to file FIRs in connection with the incident. The stolen items included mobile phones, wallets, and microphones.

Nikhil Anand, a BJP leader, condemned the reported assault on journalists during the rally. In a statement on social media platform X, Anand accused Rahul Gandhi of “speaking against the media” and blamed RJD workers for attacking journalists.

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Lawfare

Defamation case filed against Aroon Purie, India Today group head

State: Bihar

Year: 2024

Date: February 23, 2024

Lawfare – Defamation, Journalists

The defamation complaint filed against Aroon Purie relates to a 2024 televised debate that discussed internal political developments within Bihar’s Janata Dal (United), including widely reported speculation about potential leadership changes involving Nitish Kumar, Tejashwi Yadav, Lalu Prasad, and Lallan Singh.

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Attacks

Mob attacks cops, journalists in Bihar after missing woman’s body found

State: Bihar

Year: 2024

Date: February 18, 2024

Attacks – Journalists

A group of people on Sunday allegedly attacked police personnel in Bihar’s Nawgachhia following the recovery of a woman’s body nearly two days after she went missing.

The angry mob also set a police vehicle on fire and attacked journalists who were present at the spot to cover the news. In the attack, two journalists sustained serious injuries.

According to locals, a woman named Shobha Devi went missing on Friday, February 16, when she went out to sell milk. On Sunday, her body was recovered, following which the locals attacked the police, accusing them of inaction despite repeated complaints.

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Threats

Prabhat Khabar’s editor-in-chief Ashutosh Chaturvedi has received a threat from Birsa Munda Central Jail

State: Bihar

Year: 2023

Date: December 30, 2023

Threats – Journalists

Prabhat Khabar’s editor-in-chief Ashutosh Chaturvedi has received a threat in the name of Yogendra Tiwari from Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar. The threatening call came from 0651-2911807 to Mr. Chaturvedi’s mobile number. In connection with the incident, senior local editor Vijay Pathak has submitted a written complaint to the State Home Secretary, DGP, Ranchi DC, SSP, Jail Inspector, and Superintendent of Birsa Munda Jail. He has requested necessary action to be taken after providing information about the incident.

Editor Ashutosh Chaturvedi received the call from the aforementioned number at 8:28 AM. The caller first identified himself as Yogendra Tiwari. After that, he referred to the news being published in Prabhat Khabar and issued a threat. A little later, Vijay Pathak also received calls on his mobile number from 0651-2911801, 2911807, 2911805, 2911806, and 2270002 between 8:34 AM and 8:50 AM, although he was unable to communicate. Upon further investigation, it was found that all these calls were made from Birsa Munda Central Jail.

(Translated from Hindi.)

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Censorship

Bihar Government Warns Teachers Against Protests, Forming Unions

State: Bihar

Year: 2023

Date: November 12, 2023

Censorship – Protests/Meetings

The Bihar government has warned of strict disciplinary action, including cancellation of appointment of newly recruited teachers if they form any ‘association’, or become part of it, and indulge in any form of protest against the policies of the Education department.

In a stern directive to newly appointed teachers, the Education Department in a statement on November 11 said around 1.2 lakh teachers, who cleared the Bihar Public Service Commission (BPSC) recruitment exam 2023 received ‘provisional appointment letters’ on November 2.

The statement said they have not been allotted postings so far, nor they have started teaching in schools. But it has come to the notice that some of them have formed an association or become part of it and are criticising the Education department’s policies. It is a grave misconduct under the Bihar Government Employees Conduct Rules-1976.

“… they must refrain from indulging in such activities. The department will initiate strict disciplinary action, including cancellation of their provisional appointments with immediate effect if they are found guilty”, the department said.

It said that “Teachers selected from BPSC should not form any kind of union nor be a part of it. The attention of these school teachers has been drawn to Paragraph 7 of Section 17 of the Code of Conduct of Bihar School Teachers Rules 2023. Under this, Bihar Government Servants Code of Conduct 1976 applies to all school teachers”.

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Killings

Dainik Jagran journalist Vimal Kumar Yadav murdered in Bihar’s Araria district

State: Bihar

Year: 2023

Date: August 18, 2023

Killings – Journalists

Dainik Jagran journalist Vimal Kumar Yadav was shot dead by assailants who barged into his residence in Araria’s Raniganj area on Friday. It is suspected that the killing is related to his brother Gokul Yadav’s murder, which took place in a similar manner nearly four years ago. Vimal’s family has claimed that he was receiving threats to alter his testimony in the case. “Vimal had told the Police that there is a threat to his life, 3-4 days before he had requested Police protection,” the victim’s father stated.

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Showing 1-10 of 25 results