Unidentified men threatened Neha Purav at her home in Mumbai, warning her to stop reporting on a union minister's election campaign

Location: India, Mumbai

Date: May 1, 2024

Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns the threats and harassment faced by Neha Purav, a distinguished journalist with over 25 years of experience, following her report on a union minister’s election campaign. This incident, which unfolded in Mumbai when unidentified individuals confronted Purav at her home, is a direct attack on press freedom and reflects poorly on the state of democratic values in India, particularly during the sensitive period of general elections. India, claiming to be the world’s largest democracy, must take robust measures to safeguard journalists like Purav who brave personal risks to bring truth to the public. Ensuring the safety of journalists is not only about protecting individual rights but also about maintaining the integrity of democratic institutions and processes. We stand with Neha Purav and urge the local authorities to take immediate and decisive action to apprehend those responsible for threatening Purav and to ensure such incidents are not repeated. 

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Neha Purav, a reporter for the last 25 years, faced threats at the doorstep of her house, with men warning her to halt her reporting. Purav, who works for a local Marathi newspaper, Navakal, filed a first information report (FIR) at Mumbai’s police two days after the four unidentified men arrived at her home to warn her.

The journalist — whose official name is Sukhda Sadanand Purav — tells Indian news outlet Newslaundry that she was “just doing my job as a journalist” and that this was the first time in her decades-long career that she encountered such behavior, leaving Purav worried about her safety.

She tells the publication, “nothing of this sort has ever happened in all these years of reporting on different parties.” 

The threats followed Purva’s report about union minister and Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Mumbai North candidate Piyush Goyal. While the story was published on April 14 — reporting the politician had covered “ his nose with a handkerchief while passing a koliwada, a village of the Koli fisherfolk community, on his campaign trail in Mumbai” — threats appeared 11 days later. 

This incident occurs amidst the general elections in India, where nearly a billion registered voters will decide who will govern the country for the next five years. Over the past decade of BJP rule, and with the party's potential to secure a third term under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, an ongoing erosion of the country’s free press is a concerning threat as noted by Women Press Freedom. 

One such instance is the government’s decision to deny Australian journalist and ABC’s South Asia Correspondent Avani Dias her press credentials, on April 24. The journalist was compelled to leave India on the day the country began the conduct of its six-week-long election. Officials cited her reporting on sensitive topics, including the killing of a Sikh separatist leader, as the primary reason for the denial.

Women Press Freedom vehemently condemns the threats and harassment faced by Neha Purav, a respected journalist, following her report on a union minister's election campaign. This alarming incident in Mumbai, involving unidentified individuals confronting Purav at her home, is a direct assault on press freedom and undermines democratic values in India, especially during the ongoing general elections. We stand in solidarity with Neha Purav and demand that local authorities take immediate and decisive action to apprehend those responsible and ensure such incidents do not recur. Ensuring the safety of journalists like Purav, who courageously report the truth despite personal risks, is crucial not only for protecting individual rights but also for preserving the integrity of democratic institutions and processes. We further call on the Indian government to enforce stronger security measures for journalists and to ensure accountability for those who threaten, harass, or intimidate members of the press. 

Women Press Freedom is an initiative by The Coalition For Women In Journalism

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

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