Instagram accounts of three journalists reporting on MP child deaths briefly suspended

· Scroll

Instagram on Monday briefly suspended the accounts of three independent journalists who had been reporting on the deaths of Adivasi children in Madhya Pradesh’s Balaghat district. The accounts were back online on Wednesday morning.

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The Instagram accounts of Monika Singh, Bindu Gurjar and Lokbhadra Singh had been suspended by the social media platform. All three had been reporting on protests by Adivasi groups following the deaths of the children, highlighting hospital mismanagement and the struggles of ASHA workers in the region, among other subjects.

After his account was restored, Lokbhadra Singh alleged that attempts were being made to “harass the journalists and break their spirit”, but that they would not back down.

Earlier this month, Scroll reported that a mysterious measles and malaria outbreak in the region went undetected for at least two months, and led to the deaths of at least 25 children from the Baiga and Gond tribes.

The Press Club of India on Tuesday said it condemned the suspension of the journalists’ Instagram accounts and expressed concerns about attempts to intimidate or silence journalists engaged in public interest work.