Thiruvananthapuram, September 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has warned of strict legal action against those responsible for allegedly targeting senior journalist Jijo John Puthenzheth and his family with abusive and hateful messages on social media following his death.
Describing the cyber attacks as extremely painful, Satheesan said spreading hatred and falsehoods in an organised manner against a deceased journalist or any other person was a serious blot on Kerala’s social and cultural values.
“What humanity do those who spread hatred from identifiable and anonymous IDs speak of? What human values do they speak of?” Satheesan said 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 saw a stream of abusive comments directed at the journalist and his family.
Satheesan said the matter becomes particularly serious if the attacks were motivated by political hostility linked to Jijo’s investigative reporting.
He said insulting a journalist for carrying out his professional duties, including after his death, was unacceptable in a democratic society.
The Chief Minister said the government would examine the matter with utmost seriousness based on complaints submitted by the Ernakulam Press Club and Jijo’s friends. He warned that strict legal action would be taken against those found responsible, without compromise.
Jijo was known for investigative journalism and reporting on politics and governance. Some of his reports were critical of the Left and the CPI-M, drawing political opposition, while his professional work also earned national recognition. He received the Ramnath Goenka Award in 2015 and produced several investigative reports that attracted attention beyond Kerala.
In his condolence message following Jijo’s death, Satheesan recalled his personal association with the journalist, describing him as not only a senior journalist but also a fellow townsman and close friend. He said he had read one of Jijo’s reports on the morning of his death and had left for office, only learning of his demise after a Cabinet meeting. Satheesan added that he had met Jijo just days before his death.
The controversy over the social media abuse has also triggered wider concerns over political discourse in Kerala and whether political hostility should extend even beyond a person’s death. While journalists can face criticism over their reporting or methods, the incident has renewed calls for basic decency and restraint in political disagreements.
FOLLOW NOW
