New Delhi, September 12, 2021 (PPI-OT):Online news portals, Newslaundry and Newsclick, have said they did their business with honesty and termed Income Tax (IT) surveys on their offices as an attempt to stifle independent journalism.

According to Kashmir Media Service, the IT Department surveyed the offices of the news portals in south Delhi. “They took email dumps and various administrative and financial accounts related to Newsclick,” a statement from Newsclick said, adding, “These investigations are an attempt to stifle independent journalism.”

The Editors Guild said that the IT survey on the offices of online news portals was a dangerous trend of government agencies. It said the harassment and intimidation of independent media must stop. “The Guild is deeply concerned that such indiscriminate seizure of journalists’ data, which could include sensitive information such as details of sources, stories under works and other journalistic data, is in violation of free speech and freedom of press,” a statement said.

For more information, contact:
Kashmir Media Service
Phone: +92-51-4435548, +92-51-4435549
Fax: +92-51-4861736
Email: info@kmsnews.org
Website: www.kmsnews.org