Silent march to home ministry on slain scribe’s death

NEW DELHI - Friends and colleagues of Delhi journalist Nirupama Pathak, found murdered in her Jharkhand home April 29, took out a silent march to the home ministry Saturday to demand a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into her death.

The march was organised by the Press Club of India and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) alumni group under the banner ‘Justice for Nirupama’.

The march was joined by journalists, students, teachers, writers and representatives from women’s and social organisations. A memorandum was also submitted to the home minister demanding a CBI inquiry into the case.

Nirupama, 23, had gone home to Jharkhand’s Koderma town April 19 and was due to return April 28, but her reservation was cancelled. She was found dead April 29.

Her family members insist that Nirupama committed suicide but her boyfriend Priyabhanshu Ranjan alleged that she was killed by the family members who were against their love affair. Nirupama’s mother Sudha was arrested May 3.