Shaista Fatima / New Delhi

Remembering the Pulitzer Prize-winning Indian photojournalist Danish Siddiqui who was killed by the Taliban in Afghanistan last month, senior journalist R K Radhakrishnan said that his death was not collateral damage in a war theatre but cold-blooded murder that was premeditated and an act of horror.

Speaking at an online memorial meeting conducted recently by the Loyola College, Chennai, for the slain photojournalist, Radhakrishnan said Danish was not a novice to not understand the threats in a conflict zone. “It’s usual for a journalist to go through a rush of adrenalin in such a situation. However, it comes with a lot of responsibility as well.”

He said international media organizations make their reporters wear a bullet-proof vest, a gear weighing around 15kg is mandatory to don when covering a conflict zone. So, the journalists are protected to a certain extent while covering armed conflicts.

R K Radhakrishnan said, “In my professional career of 25 years so far, I have never seen such a brutal killing, it was as if a journalist was hunted down by a foreign organization and then assassinated…”

He said it’s clear that Danish was targeted, hunted, and killed ruthlessly (by the Taliban) and not a collateral damage in a war zone.

He said, during his career, he has seen a lot of journalists dying while covering an armed conflict but never such a brutal killing.

He also criticized the Indian government for maintaining silence on such a grave issue as the targeted killing of an Indian journalist in Afghanistan. 

Information minister Anurag Thakur had paid tributes and expressed his grief at the death of Danish. Indian representative to the United Nations T S Trimurti also mentioned this case while addressing the United Nations Security Council meeting on Afghanistan.

The press briefing in the White House had mentioned Danish Siddiqui’s killing by the Taliban. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani had spoken to the father of the fallen journalist.

The prayer-cum-condolence meeting was also attended by at least 50 persons with FB Khan, Jamia Millia Islamia, and Aijaz Rahi, journalist Associated Press as speakers for the event. 

Rahi said, “Danish was mentoring 10-15 students and had got them into a contract with Reuters.”

Rahi said he had recently covered the IPL matches in Ahmedabad with Danish, “I ended up spending a lot of time with him; his demise breaks my heart.” He was the epitome of ethical journalism. 

Prof Khan said, “Danish does not belong to one country or one organization; he’s global.” 

He said Danish had created a personal blog listing his works. Netizens are now visiting his website and appreciating his photographs.