Cyberbullying erupts after journalist's death in Kerala; CM issues stern warning amid online debate

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has promised strict legal action against those accused of launching coordinated social media attacks against deceased senior journalist Jijo John Puthenzheth and his family.

Satheesan said police complaints filed by the Ernakulam Press Club and the journalist's friends would be treated with utmost seriousness. He also said the online attacks appeared to be linked to political hostility over Puthenzheth's past investigative reports.

Puthenzheth, 54, a Ramnath Goenka Award-winning investigative journalist, died suddenly on Wednesday morning after suffering a cardiac arrest. His unexpected death was followed by a wave of criticism and abuse on social media, with some users targeting his earlier reporting on politics and governance.

Addressing the controversy, Satheesan on Friday said the organised spread of alleged falsehoods and hatred through social media was harmful to Kerala's social and cultural values. He said criminal proceedings under applicable cyber laws would be initiated without compromise against anyone found responsible for harassing the grieving family.

Friends condemn online vilification

Jijo’s reports had often been critical of the CPM-led LDF government and its senior leaders, a factor that appeared to have contributed to the online backlash following his death. 

The social media posts have triggered a wider debate over political rivalry, online behaviour and media ethics.

Friends and former classmates of Puthenzheth condemned what they described as a deliberate vilification campaign against the journalist. They said the attacks began before his family could complete the final rites and called for a police investigation into those allegedly behind the cyberbullying.

They also urged the state government to identify those responsible for organising or financing the alleged campaign.

At the same time, some CPM loyalists and other critics of Puthenzheth's journalism said they continued to disagree strongly with his past reporting. They maintained that their criticism was directed at his work and not based on personal enmity towards him.

Some social media users also referred to defamation proceedings linked to earlier reports while raising questions about media credibility. However, they too said personal abuse targeting a deceased person and his grieving family was unacceptable.