Save the journalist! 58 haven't returned to the newsroom in last two decades

Mumbai: India is considered to have an independent and vibrant media. Practising journalism, however, as a profession is getting 'dangerous' in the country.

With the recent attacks on journalists, the question of their safety has once again whirred to life.

Journalists in areas of conflict, which includes Jammu and Kashmir, North Eastern states and in Naxal-affected areas continue to face life threats.

According to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists, 35 journalists have been killed in India since 1992 with confirmed motives. Twenty two journalists have been killed with unconfirmed motives.

Here is a list of those who didn't return to the newsroom -- falling to the most brutal assaults.

Sandeep Kothari, Madhya Pradesh

Sandeep Kothari was a journalist for Hindi-daily newspaper in Madhya Pradesh, and used to keenly report on the wrongdoings by the sand mafia and wrote extensively against the sand mafias. He was also fighting many court cases against the sand mafias, and was burnt to death by unknown men who were said to be hired by the sand mafia. The reason for his murder is said to be refusal of withdrawing a court case against the sand mafia. He was burnt alive on June 19, 2015.

Jagendra Singh, Uttar Pradesh

Jagendra Singh, a freelance journalist who hailed from Shahjanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, reported critically on politics and current affairs in Hindi-language newspapers and on Facebook. He was allegedly burnt alive after a police raid on June 1. His family is still fighting for justice. The case shook the country because of the involvment of a state minister in the brutal killing.

MVN Shankar, Andhra Pradesh

Unidentified persons beat up MVN Shankar who worked for Telugu-daily Andhra Prabha and wrote extensively on oil mafia. He was beaten to death with iron rods in Guntur on the night of November 26, 2014.

Rajesh Verma, Uttar Pradesh

Rajesh Verma, a stringer for a TV news channel was fatally shot by unidentified man in the chest while he was covering the Muzaffarnagar riots on September 07, 2013.

Narendra Dabholkar, Maharashtra

Narendra Dabholkar was the editor of a Marathi-language weekly magazine which promotes scientific thoughts, politics, and religion. His critical take on religion got him into trouble. He was shot dead by unknown attackers when he was taking an early-morning walk on August 20, 2013.

Jyotirmoy Dey, Maharashtra

Jyotirmoy Dey had covered crime in Mumbai for 22 years and was also the author of two books. Dey was editor of special investigations of Mumbai-based tabloid and was shot dead by unknown gunmen when he was on his bike on the evening of June 11, 2011. It is believed underworld Don Chhota Rajan had hired gunmen to kill Dey.

Veeraboina Yadagiri, Telangana

Veeraboina Yadagiri, was a correspondent for Telugu newspaper and wrote extensively against the consumption of home brewed-alcohol, also known as 'toddy'. He had accused local politicians for being involved in the lucrative business of making it. He was stabbed to death outside his house on February 21, 2004.

S. Gangadhara Raju, Telangana

Gangadhara Raju, an E-TV cameraman; Jagadish Babu, a producer for private channel E-TV; Srinivas Rao and S. Krishna, assistant cameramen for E-TV; and Raja Sekhar, an assistant for E-TV, were killed in a car bomb explosion while covering the making of a film.The attack was believed to have been motivated by political rivalry targeted at the film's producer, Paritala Ravi, member of Telugu Desam party.

Altaf Ahmed Faktoo, Jammu and Kashmir

Altaf Ahmed Faktoo, was an anchor for Doordarshan channel in Srinagar. He had received threats by the militants for airing anti-militants news reports. On January 1, 1997 he was shot dead by an unidentified gunman.

M. L. Manchanda, Punjab

M.L. Manchanda was the director of the All India Radio station in Patiala, Punjab. He was abducted by a militant organisation on May 18, 1992. Militants had demanded the airing of news briefs in the regional language Punjabi and not Hindi. After not meeting their demands and the negotiations failing with the government, Manchanda was beheaded on May 18, 1992.

The CPJ report further had details of the beats covered by journalists who were murdered or killed since 1992, which were as follows: 43 per cent covered political beat, 31 per cent reported on corruption, , 23 per cent covered business and 17 per cent covered the crime beat.

This doesn’t end. Many journalists also face verbal, physical and mental harassment across India.