Islamabad, 11 Oct 2023:News portal NewsClick and its journalists have encountered raids and questioning from Delhi police, highlighting ongoing challenges for press freedom in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and India, according to a report by Kashmir Media Service. The media outlet, known for critiquing the policies of India’s government, has seen its journalists and contributors targeted, with electronic devices seized and 46 persons questioned under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
NewsClick editor Prabir Purkayastha and head of human resources, Amit Chakravarty, were arrested following allegations of money laundering. Amnesty International labeled the actions as the latest attempts by the Modi government to dismantle independent and critical media, while notable individuals, including Indian author Arundhati Roy, criticized the police raids and expressed support for NewsClick. The incidents underscore the continued repression of independent journalism in the region and evoke concern from various sectors about the declining state of press freedom under the Modi government.