Media watchdog Reporters Without Borders has called India “Asia’s deadliest country” for media personnel in its annual report, PTI reported. Of the 110 journalists killed worldwide in 2015, nine were Indian nationals, it said. While five of the nine were killed during the course of their work, the remaining four died due to undetermined reasons. Some of these journalists reported on subjects such as organised crime and its links with politicians, and on illegal mining.

The watchdog called for the appointment of a special representative of the United Nations secretary-general for the safety of journalists. It also said it had pushed the Indian government to implement a national plan to protect journalists, adding, “The inadequacy of the Indian authorities’ response is reinforcing the climate of impunity for violence against journalists.”

United States-based Committee to Protect Journalists said in its annual report that Syria was the deadliest country for journalists, followed by France and Brazil.