Political parties and civil society voices across Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir have strongly condemned the summoning of journalists by police authorities over coverage of profiling of mosques, terming it a deliberate attempt to intimidate the media and suppress independent reporting in the territory. 

According to Kashmir Media Service, over the past few days several journalists were asked to appear at Srinagar’s Cyber Police Station, where they were questioned about their news reports. Till late Tuesday, Indian police had issued no official clarification on the matter, fuelling concerns about coercion and lack of transparency. 

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti criticised the move, stating that journalists were being summoned to police stations and forced to sign bonds. She said such actions undermine press freedom and should be unequivocally condemned.

PDP leader Iltija Mufti described the situation as alarming, alleging that journalists who report on what she called “illegal and dehumanising actions,” including intrusive surveillance of mosques and imams, are being threatened and silenced. Congress chief and legislator Tariq Hameed Karra expressed deep concern over reports that journalists from local newspapers were being questioned for routine reporting.

He said such actions, if true, raise serious questions about the shrinking space for independent journalism in a democratic setup. Congress general secretary and party in-charge for IIOJK, Syed Naseer Hussain, urged the Indian government to issue clear and binding guidelines to prevent the summoning or questioning of journalists for lawful professional work, stressing that governance in the territory must be transparent and constitutional. 

National Conference spokesperson Tahir Sayeed said a free press is the cornerstone of any democracy and attempts to silence journalists through intimidation must be resisted. He noted that journalists in Kashmir already work under exceptionally difficult conditions and deserve to perform their duties with dignity and without fear. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)