Uttarakhand Journalist's Body Recovered from Bhagirathi River Barrage: Family Alleges Foul Play Amid Threats Over Corruption Reports

Dehradun- The body of 36-year-old journalist Rajeev Pratap Singh, missing since September 18, was recovered on September 29 from the Joshiyara Barrage on the Bhagirathi River in Uttarkashi district.

Pratap, an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC), operated a YouTube channel called Delhi Uttarakhand Live, focusing on local issues in Uttarkashi. His car was found damaged near Gangori on the banks of the Bhagirathi River on September 19, with one slipper inside, following a search by the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). Late night of September 18, last known message to him by his wife went undelivered, she says he called, saying he felt anxious because of threats.

Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Sarita Dobhal stated that CCTV footage from minutes before the incident showed Pratap driving alone. A postmortem examination was conducted, and results are pending to confirm the cause of death. Police say it looks like an accident his car may have skidded into the swollen river. However, the family rejects that, they say he was abducted, that he didn’t just fall off the road.

Pratap’s family reported that he had received threats following his recent reports on alleged irregularities at a district hospital and a local school. His wife, Muskan, stated that their last conversation occurred around 11 p.m. on September 18, and a message she sent at 11:50 p.m. was not delivered. The family filed an FIR for abduction at Uttarkashi Kotwali police station.

Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami expressed grief and ordered a thorough investigation. Media organizations, including the National Alliance of Journalists and the Delhi Union of Journalists, have demanded clarity on the circumstances of Pratap’s death.