Kerala journalist SV Pradeep died on Monday afternoon after a vehicle hit a scooter on which he was travelling near Karakkamandapam, Thiruvananthapuram. The driver of the vehicle that struck him has not yet been identified, though eyewitnesses reportedly said that it was an SML truck. No CCTV cameras or traffic cameras were present at the spot where the accident occured.
Pradeep was rushed to a hospital but succumbed to his injuries. His body is presently at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital. Some reports suggest that there was a delay in taking him to the hospital following the accident.
The journalist, who hailed from Pallichal, Thiruvananthapuram, had worked at MediaOne, Manorama News, Kairali TV, Jaihind, Mangalam and News18. He had been running the online channel, Bharathlive. He completed his education at Kerala University and the Institute of Journalism Press Club Thiruvananthapuram.
Pradeep is survived by his wife and two children.
Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala had alleged that there was something amiss in the death of the journalist. In a press note, he urged that the accident should be investigated at the earliest and a high-level enquiry should be conducted.
"Pradeep is now silent. I don't know what to do to feel sadness, anger and helplessness… His body might have been immovable, but he will not stop his fights, that is what I believe," Sanal Kumar Sasidharan, a filmmaker wrote on Facebook.