IPRD delists from advt panel two newspapers linked to Thakur, prime accused in Bihar home

The IPRD also cancelled the health insurance cover for journalists, extended to Thakur and Kumari through the IPRD

The information and public relations department (IPRD), Bihar, on Thursday delisted from its advertisement empanelment list two newspapers — Pratah Kamal and Halaat-e-Bihar — having links with Brajesh Kumar Thakur, the prime accused in the sexual exploitation of 34 of the 44 girls at a Muzaffarpur short stay home.

The building that housed short stay home, at Muzaffarpur. (HT File Photo)

Thakur’s son, Rahul Anand, is the printer and publisher of the two newspapers and managing editor of Pratah Kamal.

Thakur, a correspondent of Hindi daily, Pratah Kamal, was an accredited journalist of the IPRD before his accreditation was cancelled on June 16.

The IPRD also cancelled the accreditation of Madhu Kumari, correspondent of Halaat-e-Bihar, an Urdu daily, said IPRD deputy director Ravi Bhushan Sahay.

Kumari reportedly has close links with Thakur and is an accused in the Muzaffarpur short stay home case. She is evading arrest.

The IPRD also cancelled the health insurance cover for journalists, extended to Thakur and Kumari through the IPRD.

It also sought a report from district magistrates of Samastipur, Muzaffarpur and East Champaran on the overall activity of five other journalists, attached with the two newspapers, and accredited with the IPRD. It asked the DMs to investigate if they were also connected with the shelter home case.

“If we find anything suspect we will cancel their accreditation too,” added Sahay.