The Thiruvananthapuram - based broadcast journalist, was killed in a hit-and–run road accident in what sources describe as suspicious circumstances.
According to police and onlookers, a Swaraj Mazda truck hit Pradeep’s two-wheeled vehicle which was travelling in the same direction near a Karakkamandapam traffic signal. Instead of stopping, the driver sped away. Pradeep was severely injured and died later from the injuries he had sustained in the incident.
Local police set a special investigation team and said they were considering the option of a targeted attack as a motive and were focused on tracing the vehicle, media reports added.
The journalist’s family alleged that Pradeep’s death might have been staged and demanded an enquiry. Both Pradeep’s mother and sister stated that he was regularly threatened on social media platforms due to his work. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state chief K Surendran was also quoted as saying Pradeep was informed of important “secrets of those in power”.
The veteran journalist worked for several major media organisations, including Media One, Manorama News, Jaihind, News 18 and Mangalam TV.