The number of deaths of journalists in an already-record-breaking year continued to inch higher over the last week, as one journalist was killed by reported rebels in Syria and another shot dead by police amid anti-rape protests in India.

The International Press Institute (IPI)’s Death Watch stood at 132 following Sunday’s death of Indian journalist Thangjam Nanao Singh, also identified as Thangjam Dijamani, a reporter for Guwahati-based satellite channel Prime News.

Singh was reportedly shot in the chest when police in Imphal, the capital of Manipur state in north-eastern India, opened fire on protesters who were demanding the arrest of a man accused of sexually assaulting a film actress. Singh died later at an area hospital.

India has seen mass protests against the sexual assault of women in recent days following the brutal gang rape of a woman on a bus in Delhi. Tensions in Manipur were further inflamed by allegations that the actress’ alleged assailant was a member of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN), which Al Jazeera described as a guerrilla group demanding a sovereign state for the mostly Christian Naga tribe of northeast India and neighbouring Myanmar.

In Syria, state television cameraman Haidar al-Sumudi was killed outside his Damascus home last Friday by “armed terrorist groups,” the Los Angeles Times reported the Syrian Arab News Agency as saying. Syria’s government often uses the term to refer to rebels fighting to overthrow the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.

IPI Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie said: “We deplore the loss of so many of our colleagues in 2012 and our thoughts go out to their families, friends and co-workers. We call on India’s government to hold those responsible for Mr. Singh’s death accountable. Similarly, we remind all parties to the conflict in Syria that journalists are never legitimate targets.”