Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 11: Chief minister V D Satheesan on Friday warned of strict legal action against those responsible for cyber attacks targeting senior journalist Jijo John Puthenzheth and his family following his death.

Describing the attacks as extremely painful, Satheesan said organised attempts to spread hatred and falsehoods against a deceased journalist or any human being were a permanent stain on Kerala’s high social culture.

“What humanity do those who spread hatred from identifiable and anonymous IDs speak of? What human values do they speak of?” he asked in a social media post.

Jijo, 54, a senior journalist with Malayala Manorama’s Kochi unit, died of cardiac arrest on Wednesday morning. Soon after news of his death emerged, social media platforms were flooded with abusive comments targeting the journalist and his family.

Satheesan said the matter was particularly serious if the attacks were motivated by political animosity over Jijo’s investigative reports.

“Insulting a journalist over the discharge of his professional duty, and insulting even his death in the name of political hostility, is wholly unbecoming of a democratic society,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the government would examine the matter with utmost seriousness based on complaints filed by the Ernakulam Press Club and Jijo’s friends. He assured that strict legal action would be taken against those responsible without compromise.

Satheesan also said such “despicable and cruel” cyber attacks would not be tolerated against anyone.

Jijo was known for his investigative reports and extensive coverage of politics and governance. Some of his reports were critical of the Left and the CPI-M, earning him political detractors. At the same time, his professional work brought him national recognition, including the Ramnath Goenka Award in 2015.

In his condolence message following Jijo’s death, Satheesan recalled his personal association with the journalist. He said he had left for office after reading a report carrying Jijo’s byline that morning, only to learn about his death after a Cabinet meeting.

Satheesan said Jijo was not only a senior journalist but also a fellow townsman and close friend. He had met the journalist just days before his death.

The outrage over the social media abuse has sparked a wider debate on political discourse in Kerala and whether political hostility can be allowed to persist even beyond death.

Disagreements over a journalist’s reports or criticism of his methods are part of democratic discourse. However, the reaction following Jijo’s death has once again raised questions about whether political differences should ever cross the basic line of human decency.