Patna: A day after the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) took suo motu cognizance of the murder of two Ara-based journalists, another named accused in the case, Dabloo Miyan, surrendered in the local court on Wednesday.

The NHRC issued notices to the state government on Tuesday calling for a detailed report on the incident within four weeks. The notices were sent to chief secretary Anjani Kumar Singh and director-general of police K.S. Dwivedi.

The commission earlier took suo motu cognizance of the incident on the basis of reports published in the newspapers. Naveen Nishchal and Vijay Singh were killed after an SUV rammed into their motorbike near Nahsi village in Bhojpur district on Sunday night.

"If the deceased journalists have actually been targeted, it is indeed a serious threat for a civilized society," the commission observed. "The state authorities are required to take immediate stringent measures by protecting life, liberty and dignity of the media persons to uphold the rule of law."

Bhojpur superintendent of police (SP) Avakash Kumar said Dabloo Miyan, who was evading arrest, surrendered in the Ara civil court on Wednesday after the police mounted pressure. "Dabloo is the son of former mukhiya (panchayat head) Ahmed Ali alias Harsu, arrested earlier," he said.

A special investigation team has been set up for the case. A case under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) has been lodged against the accused on the statement of Naveen's brother Rajesh Kumar, the SP said.

UN chief concern

UN chief Antonio Guterres expressed concern over the deaths of two Indian journalists (Naveen in Bihar and Sandeep Sharma in Madhya Pradesh), reports PTI. Sandeep, 35, a reporter for a local television channel in MP's Bhind district died after he was mowed down by a truck. He had earlier done a sting on illegal sand mining.

In New Delhi, the Editors Guild of India on Wednesday demanded "strict action" in the recent cases of alleged killing of journalists.