Uttarakhand journalist found dead in river had internal injuries, postmortem says; police form probe team

“Some internal injuries were found in the chest/abdominal region, which could have been sustained during the accident, and the cause of death was declared as possible due to the accident,” said Uttarkashi Superintendent of Police Sarita Dobhal. Police said the postmortem said there were no signs of assault on the body.

However, Uttarakhand DGP Deepam Seth said a probe team would investigate all aspects related to the matter and submit a report. “A postmortem has been conducted, and the report has been received by the police. For further investigation, a team has been formed under the leadership of Deputy SP Uttarkashi. This team will thoroughly review all the evidence collected so far… The team will include all aspects in its investigation and will submit its report promptly,” the DGP said.

CCTV clues

Pratap (36) had been missing since around 11 pm on September 18, and his body was retrieved at the Jhula Darh barrage on Sunday.

On September 19, a missing persons report was lodged. According to police, CCTV footage from Uttarkashi bazar showed that at 10.24 pm, Pratap was at Hotel Chauhan along with a friend. He was also seen at 11.20 pm at Uttarkashi bus stand, and at 11.22 pm, he was seen driving his friend’s car alone towards Ujeli. At 11.39 pm, the car was captured crossing Gangori bridge. However, CCTV footage from a petrol pump further ahead did not capture the Alto car going further towards Maneri.

A police officer said, “The next day, the car was found in the Bhagirathi river near Syun village, close to Gangori. The vehicle had fallen about 50–55 metres below the Gangotri highway into the river. There were no crash barriers or parapet walls at the accident site. Near the accident spot, the owner’s bag and the shattered glass of the vehicle were recovered from the hillside. The car was found about 300 metres downstream, carried away by the river current. Police and SDRF teams identified the vehicle as the same Alto car that Rajeev had been driving. No person was found inside the vehicle.”

Inside the car, one slipper was recovered, and the car keys were in place, and the ignition was found in the ‘on’ position, police said.

According to police, on the night he died, Pratap had dinner with his friend at Hotel Chauhan near the Uttarkashi bus stand, after which he drove the friend’s car and travelled in the direction of Gangori. The next day, when he did not return, his friend called the Dial 112 emergency number and also informed Pratap’s family. The family filed a police report, after which a missing/abduction case was registered.

Family’s suspicions

Pratap’s uncle Kirpal Singh told The Indian Express that he had relayed anxieties regarding his reporting on local issues. “However, we do not know who would try to kill him. If only his phone is recovered, we will get answers. The police are investigating the matter, and we have been kept abreast of all developments,” he said.

Pratap’s wife, Muskan, had said earlier that she had talked to him around 11 pm on the day he went missing, after which he was unavailable. “He was telling me that he was feeling anxious after his reports on a hospital and a school. He said that many people were calling him, threatening to kill him if the videos were not taken down. At 11.50, I sent a message, and it went undelivered. He was abducted by someone. I am sure he did not just fall off the road,” she had alleged.