Raman Kashyap’s family says he wasn't 'beaten up' by farmers, accuses Aaj Tak of 'false narrative'

On Sunday, journalist Raman Kashyap was killed in the violence that took place in Lakhimpur Kheri. Seven others died that day, including four farmers.

Following his death, Kashyap's family has disputed media reports trying to build a narrative that the journalist was beaten up by farmers. They also accused an Aaj Tak reporter of forcing a false narrative.

In an interview with journalist Ranvijay Singh, Kashyap's brother said a reporter from Aaj Tak had claimed that the postmortem said that Kashyap had been hit with sticks and lathis. The brother pointed out that the family had seen Kashyap's body in the mortuary; further, Kashyap's postmortem report has not been released yet.

The brother said he had argued with the reporter, who allegedly told him that if he hadn't been the deceased's brother, he would not speak to him with this much respect.

The brother told Singh that some mediapersons were trying to "put words" in their mouths, "like farmers hit him with sticks, etc, but we said that is not the case".

"Media is also playing politics," he said, adding that the source of the Aaj Tak's reporter's news seemed to be a "Whatsapp news group" but that the "false news" message had been sent by the reporter himself.

Kashyap's father had also disputed media reports that his son was thrashed to death. In an interview to Newslaundry, the father maintained that a car ran over the journalist and dragged him, and cited marks on Kashyap's body as evidence of this.

When asked about the rumours that Kashyap had been beaten, the father said a reporter from Aaj Tak, which he also described as the "Anjana Om Kashyap channel", had spoken to him about "lathi dande ke nishan".

"My other son told him to drink a glass of water and requested him to return home," he said.

Newslaundry reached out to Aaj Tak's corporate communications team for comment. This report will be updated if we receive a response.