In cold blood: Reporter’s murder a mystery to police, family

Jiwan Arain was on his way to work when two men shot him

SUKKUR:

The murder of a Gambat-based reporter of a private television channel on Wednesday has left his family, friends, colleagues and police in shock.

There are rumours about why he was killed but no one knows the real reason behind the cold-blooded murder. The police claim that Jiwan Arain was killed over a property dispute, his family refuses to believe this was the case.

The murder

On Wednesday, Jiwan Arain, 45, and his friend Sachal Rind set off for work on Arain’s motorcycle from the Khabri village to Gambat where Arain, worked as a reporter for Dharti TV. When they reached the katcha area of Adh Kassi, two armed motorcyclists who had been chasing them opened fire at Arain, who died on the spot.

The police have started an investigation and have arrested Rind for questioning.

The reaction

As news of Arain’s murder spread, it upset several journalists who decided to hold protests and demonstrate against the incident. Different associations of journalists demanded that Arain’s killers should be arrested immediately.

The dispute

Arain’s son, Junaid, told the media that his father had sold 16-acres of agricultural land for Rs13.2 million and had purchased a house and hotel in Gambat Town with that money. He added that there was no land dispute.

The DSP claimed that the family had not filed an FIR as yet but he suspects it was a targeted attack and related it to a property dispute.

Transitions

Arain leaves behind a widow, three daughters and two sons. He had been working with Dharti TV for the last six years and had been associated with journalism for the last 15 years. No case was registered till the filing of this report.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 7^th, 2014.