Irfan Hussain

{{Short description|Indian cartoonist (1964–1999)}} {{About|the Indian cartoonist|the Pakistani columnist|Irfan Husain}} {{Infobox person |name = Irfan Hussain |image = Irfan_Hussain.jpg |birth_date = {{birth date|1964|01|29|df=yes}} |birth_place = Nagpur |death_date = {{death date and age|1999|03|13|1964|01|29|df=yes}} |death_place = Sahibabad, Uttar Pradesh, India |occupation = Cartoonist, illustrator |signature = |spouse = Munira (1991-1999) }} '''Irfan Hussain''' was a senior cartoonist for the Indian magazine, Outlook, who was kidnapped and murdered in 1999.<ref name=HazardsofDelhi>{{cite news|title=4 journalists murdered in two years: occupational hazards of reporting in Delhi|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/1999/mar/15irfan.htm|accessdate=13 January 2015|work=Rediff|date=15 March 1999}}</ref> There have been no convictions in the case so far.<ref name=CartoonistIrfan/> In his short career he worked for The Hitavada, Hindustan Times and The Pioneer (India).

==Kidnapping and murder==

{{Location map | India Delhi | width = 200 | float = right | caption = Location of Gazipur in Delhi, where Hussain's body was found | alt = Location of Gazipur in Delhi, where Reddy the body was found | label = Gazipur | label_size = 100  | position = bottom | background = orange | mark = Orange_pog.svg | marksize = 10  | lat_deg = 28.63078 | lon_deg = 77.32533 }}

On 8 March 1999, after spending an evening at the Delhi Press Club at Irfan_Hussain.jpg, Irfan Hussain called his wife to tell her that he would reach home in 15 minutes. He dropped off a colleague at Laxmibai Nagar. Then he went missing on the way to his home in Sahibabad. On 9 March, his wife, Munira Hussain, filed a missing person report.<ref name=Letoff>{{cite news|title=No evidence: Cartoonist's murder accused let off|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/mar/31delhi.htm|accessdate=13 January 2015|work=Rediff|date=31 March 2006}}</ref><ref name=Account>{{cite news|title=Called to Account: Four unsolved media murders --the heat is on the police.|url=http://archives.digitaltoday.in/indiatoday/29031999/crime.html|accessdate=13 January 2015|work=India Today|date=29 March 1999}}</ref><ref name=SavageMurder>{{cite news|title=Finger points at Hindu fanatics after cartoonist's savage murder|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/finger-points-at-hindu-fanatics-after-cartoonists-savage-murder-1082161.html|accessdate=13 January 2015|work=The Independent (UK)|date=21 March 1999}}</ref> After three days, Paresh Nath, a cartoonist at The National Herald, received an anonymous phone call from someone claiming to be from the Shiv Sena, saying that Hussain had already been murdered; and that he and another Delhi cartoonist, Sudhir Tailang, would also be killed soon. Shiv Sena, a right-wing, Hindu ultranationalist party, denied its involvement.<ref name=SavageMurder/>

Irfan Hussain's body was discovered on 13 March 1999 in a field in Ghazipur in east Delhi near National Highway 24. By this time, Hussain had been missing for five days.<ref name=HazardsofDelhi/> He had been found strangled, his throat was slit, he had 28 stab wounds and his hands and feet were bound, indicating he was tortured.<ref name=Account/><ref name=SavageMurder/><ref name=EndofA>{{cite news|title=The end of a myth|url=http://www.frontline.in/static/html/fl1607/16071210.htm|accessdate=13 January 2015|work=Frontline|date=9 April 1999}}</ref> A colleague asked to identify the body could only do so by his shoes, due to the body's disfigurement.<ref name=SavageMurder/> His car could not be located for several months and his cellphone was never found.<ref name=Account/>

===Investigation and arrests=== {{Location map many | India | width = 200 | float = right | caption = Sites where the body, bag and the car were found | label = Panipat | pos = right | marksize = 8 | lat_deg = 29.3900 | lon_deg = 76.9700 | label2 = Gazipur | pos2 = bottom | mark2size = 8 | lat2_deg = 28.63078 | lon2_deg = 77.32533 | label3 = Anantnag | pos3 = top | lat3_deg = 33.7300 | lon3_deg = 75.1500 }} In late March 1999, police claimed to have recovered a bag belonging to Hussain from Panipat. On 5 December 1999, the missing car's stereo was found from a dealer. The car was recovered in Anantnag. On 14 December, the police arrested five accused from a metropolitan court, where they were under trial for auto theft.<ref name=Letoff/>

===Trial=== On 8 February 2001, the charges were filed against the five for kidnapping with the intent to murder, murder and group liability. On 1 June 2001, a sixth accused, a juvenile, was arrested. On 23 July 2001, the Additional Sessions Judge court began hearing the evidence of the prosecution.<ref name=Letoff/>

On 12 September 2005, the juvenile accused petitioned the court for his case to be transferred to a juvenile court, and on 19 September his petition was granted.<ref name=Letoff/>

On 3 January 2006, the court finished the prosecution's case and about 60 witnesses' statements were recorded. On 30 January, the court began hearing the accused's case where they pleaded innocence. The final arguments began on 4 February, and concluded on 27 February.<ref name=Letoff/>

On 28 February, the Additional Sessions Judge Talwant Singh acquitted the accused, stating that the evidence against them was circumstantial and they could not be linked to the crimes. On 31 March, the written order was given.<ref name=Letoff/>

===Aftermath=== The prosecution decided not to challenge the verdict. Hussain's father, Mansoor Bhai, gave permission to the Outlook magazine editor, Vinod Mehta, to file an appeal in the Delhi High Court. On 7 April 2006, Mehta said that the magazine's lawyers would file an appeal for a re-investigation.<ref name=CartoonistIrfan>{{cite news|title=Cartoonist Irfan Hussain's family to challenge acquittals|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/cartoonist-irfan-hussains-family-to-challenge-acquittals_286973.html|accessdate=13 January 2015|work=Zee News|date=8 April 2006}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{cite news|title=Best Of Irfan Hussain: Illustrations|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/photos/default.aspx?pt=8&ptv=102|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150118122237/http://www.outlookindia.com/photos/default.aspx?pt=8&ptv=102|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 January 2015|work=Outlook India|date=3 April 2006}} * {{cite news|title=Best Of Irfan Hussain: Cartoons|url=http://www.outlookindia.com/photos/default.aspx?pt=8&ptv=103|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150118122235/http://www.outlookindia.com/photos/default.aspx?pt=8&ptv=103|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 January 2015|work=Outlook India|date=3 April 2006}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hussain, Irfan}} Category:Assassinated Indian journalists Category:Indian editorial cartoonists Category:1999 deaths Category:1964 births