Press Secretary Vikas Po was killed in a drive-by shooting in downtown Tonderay late last night. The shooting occurred just outside the Office of Directors complex.
Press Secretary Po was transported to Children's Hospital of Tonderay after the shooting. Credit: H3C.
Witnesses say Po was on his way home following the delivery of his nightly public press briefing when an unmarked black car pulled up beside him. Following a short exchange of heated words, someone in the car fired several shots, striking the Press Secretary multiple times. Po was transported to the nearby Children’s Hospital of Sabmadi, but attempts to stabilize his condition were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead several hours after the shooting.
The assassins sped off following the shooting. Tonderay Police later found the remains of a car matching the description in an abandoned lot in the area of Kayin Ridge near the Nang Cao River. The car had recently been burned, destroying most evidence of who it may have belonged to.
SI1, Sabmadi’s domestic intelligence agency, has since taken over the investigation. They put out a statement earlier that suspects in the shooting are still at large at this time, and offered a twenty thousand dhana award for any information leading to an arrest. “Acts of violence against government officials cannot be tolerated,” said SI1 Director Surya Davale. “This particular act was especially audacious, taking place in the heart of Tonderay on national grounds. This department will not rest until these murderers are brought to justice.”
Vikas Po was a highly controversial figure throughout his career. He began as a reporter with the BK, and achieved the role of Chief Editor by age 40. During his tenure, he was acknowledged by many as a great writer, but frequently chose to cover highly controversial topics and stories, earning him a reputation as a firebrand.
Many observers questioned Chancellor Lin’s decision to appoint him to the role of Press Secretary of her administration. Using his new platform, Po continued to shed light on many topics that his critics considered to be in poor taste for a figure of his stature. Pundits often blame Po for the increasing popularity and influence of certain fringe groups, such as the Antiestablishmentarianists, saying that he consistently gave agitators an undue national spotlight.
It seems that these same “agitator” groups agree with this opinion. Antiestablishmentarianist-led vigils were seen throughout Tonderay last night in honor of the late Press Secretary. Recently-retired activist/filmmaker, and newly-minted father/husband Maximiliano Gangopadhyay gave an uncharacteristically succinct and somber statement to the press this morning, saying “Po was a good man who helped shed light on issues others ignored. He did not deserve this fate.”
Chancellor Lin also spoke to the press following Po’s death, saying:
While I am aware of the many controversies Press Secretary Vikas Po caused in his position, he was a good man committed to covering the news in a fair and balanced way. His untimely death will not be in vain. The fine press tradition he contributed to will live on without him, difficult as it may initially be.
This incident will be thoroughly investigated by the Tonderay Police Service. I have full faith in our officers to find those who committed this heinous act and bring them to justice. General security will also be increased until it is established that the killer, or killers, are no longer a threat to the people of Sabmadi.
Po is the third major political figure to die this month, following the death of celebrated science director Gor Tenga late last week, and the passing of Administrative Services Director Quent Q earlier in the week. Despite speculation and conspiracy theories that attempt to tie the deaths together, police have released no evidence relating these tragedies at this time.
Vikas Po was 43 years old. He is survived by two siblings, Amar, a businessman in Western Tonderay, and Jaya, who works in the Sabmadi Bureau of Intelligence. His nephew, Ashman, currently interns at the BK.
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