Uttarakhand Police Forms Special Investigation Team to Probe Journalist Rajiv Pratap's Mysterious Death

Journalist Rajiv Pratap's body was discovered on September 28, following his disappearance on September 18.

Dehradun:

On Tuesday, Uttarakhand Police established a special investigation team (SIT) to examine the circumstances surrounding journalist Rajiv Pratap's death, after his body was recovered from the Bhagirathi river several days earlier.

Rajiv Pratap had been missing since September 18, with his body eventually located near Joshiada barrage in Uttarkashi district on September 28. His damaged vehicle was found on the river bank on September 20.

Police had previously stated that according to the postmortem report, Pratap died from internal injuries to his chest and abdomen.

Director General of Police (DGP) Deepam Seth announced that the SIT, led by the Uttarkashi deputy superintendent of police, will investigate all aspects of the case. This includes analyzing CCTV footage, electronic evidence, call records, and statements from individuals who last saw the journalist.

A technical evaluation of his vehicle will also be part of the investigation.

Mr Seth mentioned that Rajiv Pratap's family had reported threatening calls received by the journalist. Although no formal complaint regarding these threats had been filed, the SIT will include this information in their investigation.

The DGP explained that upon receiving reports of Pratap's disappearance on September 19, police launched an extensive search operation with assistance from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and utilized drones and dog squads.

Rajiv Pratap was last captured on CCTV footage driving on September 18, with his damaged car discovered on the riverbank two days later. Following a complaint from the journalist's family, an FIR for abduction was registered.

According to Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Sarita Dobal, the post-mortem findings attributed the cause of death to internal injuries to the chest and abdomen, consistent with an accident. No external injuries were observed.

The formation of the SIT came after calls from opposition leaders, including Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who described Rajiv Pratap's death as "tragic" and advocated for an "immediate, impartial and transparent" investigation.

In a statement posted on X, Rahul Gandhi said, "There should be an immediate, impartial, and transparent investigation into Rajiv ji's death, and the victim's family should receive justice without delay."