CM Satheesan warns of strict action over cyber attacks on dead journalist, kin

Thiruvananthapuram: Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Friday warned of strict legal action against those behind the cyber attacks targeting senior journalist Jijo John Puthenzheth and his family following his death.

Calling the attacks extremely painful, Chief Minister Satheesan said spreading hatred and falsehoods in an organised manner against a journalist who had passed away, or against any human being, was a permanent stain on Kerala’s high social culture.

“What humanity do those who spread hatred from identifiable and anonymous IDs speak of? What human values do they speak of?” Chief Minister Satheesan asked in a social media post.

Jijo, 54, a senior journalist with Malayala Manorama’s Kochi unit, died of a cardiac arrest on Wednesday morning.

Soon after news of his death emerged, social media witnessed a stream of abusive comments targeting him and his family.

Chief Minister Satheesan said it was a serious matter if the abuse was driven by political animosity over Jijo’s investigative reports in the past.

“Insulting a journalist over the discharge of his professional duty, and insulting even his death in the name of political hostility, is wholly unbecoming of a democratic society,” he said.

He said the government would consider the matter with utmost seriousness based on complaints filed by the Ernakulam Press Club and Jijo’s friends.

“Strict legal action will be taken against those responsible without any compromise,” Satheesan said, adding that such despicable and cruel cyber attacks would not be tolerated against anyone.

Jijo was known for his investigative reports and coverage of politics and governance.

Some of his reports were critical of the Left and the CPI-M, earning him political critics.

But his professional work had also earned him national recognition.

He received the Ramnath Goenka Award in 2015 and had produced several investigative reports that attracted national attention.

Chief Minister Satheesan, in his condolence message after Jijo’s death, had recalled his personal association with the journalist.

He said he had started for office after reading a report carrying Jijo’s byline that morning, only to learn of his death after a Cabinet meeting.

Chief Minister Satheesan said Jijo was not only a senior journalist but also a fellow townsman and close friend.

He had met him just days before his death.

The outrage over the social media abuse has now raised a larger question about political discourse in Kerala , whether political hostility can be allowed to survive even beyond death.

There can be disagreements with a journalist’s reports and criticism of his methods. But the reaction to Jijo’s death has renewed the debate over whether there remains a basic line of decency that political differences should never cross.

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