Thiruvananthapuram, September 11 (Daily Kiran) : Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has issued a stern warning regarding cyber attacks aimed at the family of senior journalist Jijo John Puthenjeath, who passed away from a cardiac arrest on September 6. The CM stated that those responsible for the online harassment would face strict legal action.
In a social media post, Satheesan condemned the organized spread of hatred and falsehoods against the deceased journalist and any individual, describing it as a permanent stain on Kerala’s high social culture. He questioned the humanity of those spreading hate from anonymous accounts, asking what values they truly represent.
Jijo John, a 54-year-old senior journalist with Malayala Manorama’s Kochi unit, was known for his investigative reporting. Following the news of his death, social media was inundated with derogatory comments aimed at him and his family. The Chief Minister expressed that if these insults stemmed from political animosity related to Jijo’s previous investigative work, it is a serious issue.
Satheesan emphasized that it is unacceptable to demean a journalist for fulfilling their professional duties, especially in a democratic society. He assured that the government would take the complaints from the Ernakulam Press Club and Jijo’s friends very seriously.
He also made it clear that there would be no compromise in taking strong legal action against those responsible for such vile and cruel cyber attacks. Jijo was recognized for his critical reports on leftist politics and the CPI(M), which earned him both political critics and national recognition, including the Ramnath Goenka Award in 2015.
In expressing his condolences, the Chief Minister reflected on his personal connection with Jijo, recalling that he had read one of Jijo’s bylined reports that morning before leaving for the office, only to learn about his passing after a cabinet meeting. Jijo was not just a senior journalist but also a close friend from his hometown.
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