GARHWA: A disturbing incident has surfaced in district where local YouTuber Vikas Sahu was allegedly assaulted during a video shoot. The case has sparked outrage among media circles and civil society, raising questions about press freedom and law enforcement in the region.
According to reports, Sahu was attacked by a group of individuals while filming content in Garhwa. His mobile phone was allegedly damaged during the assault. Police later confirmed the arrest of four accused — Rahul Kumar, Manoj Thakur, Vivek Dubey, and Satish Kumar Yadav — in connection with the incident.
Sahu has claimed that the attack was not random but linked to his reporting activities. In a separate account, he alleged that he was lured into a trap and beaten with sticks after exposing irregularities involving a local NGO. He further stated that he had to run several kilometers to save his life, and despite visible injuries, an FIR was not registered immediately.
The incident has drawn sharp criticism from organizations such as the All India Students’ Association (AISA), which condemned the assault as an attack on freedom of expression. The group demanded swift action against the perpetrators and protection for independent voices in the state.
Local residents and fellow journalists have also expressed concern over the delay in filing an FIR, calling it a reflection of the deteriorating law-and-order situation in Jharkhand.