Family alleges foul play following Pratap’s exposés on hospital and school corruption; police say accident under investigation.
BY PC Bureau
September 29, 2025: — In a development that has sent shockwaves through India’s media community, the body of 36-year-old journalist Rajiv Pratap was recovered on Sunday from the Joshiyara barrage on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarkashi district, ten days after he vanished under mysterious circumstances.
Pratap, a resident of Ajabpur Kalan in Dehradun and founder of the digital news platform Delhi Uttarakhand Live, was last seen on the night of September 18 near a bus stop in Gangori, heading toward Bhatwari in a borrowed Alto car. Authorities, including teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), located the decomposed body around 10 a.m. on September 28, following the discovery of his severely damaged vehicle in the river on September 19.
The car, owned by Pratap’s friend Soban Singh, had plunged into the fast-flowing Bhagirathi. Preliminary investigations found no visible injury marks on the body, which was sent to the district hospital for a postmortem. Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Sarita Dobhal confirmed the recovery and said forensic teams are analyzing the scene, the vehicle, and Pratap’s communication records, including CCTV footage from nearby areas.
While police are preliminarily treating the incident as an accident, citing treacherous terrain and poor nighttime visibility, Pratap’s family vehemently rejects this narrative, alleging abduction and foul play linked to his recent exposés on local corruption. An FIR was registered under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for abduction based on the family’s missing-person complaint on September 19.
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“He was abducted. I am sure he did not just fall off the road,” said Pratap’s wife, Muskan, recalling their last conversation. She said Rajiv had sounded anxious after uploading videos exposing irregularities at the Uttarkashi district hospital and a local school. “Many people were threatening him to take down the videos. At 11:50 p.m., I sent a message, and it went undelivered,” she added.
A Fearless Voice Silenced
An alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), Pratap had carved a niche in regional journalism through Delhi Uttarakhand Live, combining YouTube videos, Facebook updates, and on-ground reporting. His work focused on healthcare lapses, educational shortcomings, and environmental issues in Uttarakhand’s fragile Himalayan ecosystem.
His September 16 video highlighting substandard hospital facilities and alleged fund misappropriation sparked public outrage but also drew threats. Subsequent reports on a government school’s dilapidated infrastructure heightened tensions. “Rajiv was a dogged investigator who didn’t shy away from naming names,” said Soban Singh, the car’s owner, in his police complaint.
This is heartbreaking and chilling from Uttarakhand 💔
Journalist Rajeev Pratap, age ~36 ran a digital news channel called Delhi Uttarakhand Live.
He used to report on local issues recently he posted stories about the condition of the district hospital in Uttarkashi and… pic.twitter.com/h1mSAUVssU
— Prayag (@theprayagtiwari) September 29, 2025
Friends noted that Pratap had “made several enemies” through his unfiltered reporting, often facing pressure from officials to delete incriminating content. He was last seen alone at 11:20 p.m. on September 18 near Gangori bus stop, with no apparent reason to venture toward the riverine stretch, family members insisted. Searches intensified after the vehicle recovery, involving drones, divers, and volunteers, until the body’s discovery.
Official Response and Calls for Justice
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed profound grief, calling it a “heartbreaking loss” and directed a “thorough and impartial investigation.” Deputy Superintendent of Police Janak Singh Panwar said mobile tower data, witness statements, and autopsy results—expected within 48 hours—would clarify the cause of death.
Skepticism persists. The family, supported by media unions, has demanded a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by an independent agency. “This isn’t just an accident; it’s a pattern of silencing voices exposing rot in the system,” Muskan said during a press briefing.
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Outrage from Media and Civil Society
Press bodies nationwide have condemned the incident. The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) and National Union of Journalists (India) termed it a “direct assault on press freedom,” urging the Uttarakhand government to invoke stringent BNS provisions. Candlelight vigils in Uttarkashi and Dehradun drew hundreds chanting “Justice for Rajiv” and holding placards decrying a “Media Blackout in the Hills.”
“Rajiv dedicated his life to holding the powerful accountable,” said a senior colleague at Delhi Uttarakhand Live, speaking anonymously. Civil society groups, including the Editors Guild of India, called for witness protection and a review of journalist safety protocols in sensitive regions. Authorities have appealed for public tips regarding Pratap’s last movements, promising anonymity and rewards.
Broader Implications
Pratap’s death highlights the perils Indian journalists face, especially in rural and border states like Uttarakhand, where corruption intersects with political influence. India ranks 159th on the World Press Freedom Index, with Reporters Without Borders noting an average of three to four media killings annually, many unresolved.
Recent cases—such as the January 2025 murder of Chhattisgarh freelancer Mukesh Chandrakar over a road scam exposé—underscore the dangers reporters face when targeting graft. Activists warn that without robust safeguards like fast-track courts and insurance for stringers, the fourth estate risks becoming collateral in the fight against wrongdoing.
“Journalists like Rajiv aren’t dying; they’re being erased,” a protester said at Sunday’s vigil. As Uttarakhand’s hills echo with grief, the nation watches: Will justice prevail, or will another truth-seeker fade into silence?
