PCI demands probe against police in IIOJK for ‘harassing’ journalist 

New Delhi, June 10, 2022 (PPI-OT):The Press Club of India (PCI) took serious exception to the harassment of a Kashmiri journalist by police in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir and demanded that an enquiry be “immediately” conducted against the force. The journalist body also urged the Indian government and Lieutenant Governor of the occupied territory Manoj Sinha to immediately intervene to safeguard the freedom of the press and stop further harassment and targeted witch hunting of journalists.

The PCI’s demands came after Shahid Tantray, a journalist with ‘The Caravan’ magazine said that police in IIOJK was harassing him over his article on the Army’s interference in activities in Kashmir. Issuing a statement, Tantray claimed that he and his family were being intimidated by the police for writing articles on daily developments in Kashmir.

“Press Club of India strongly castigates J and K police for harassing Shahid Tantray. Of late, Tantray’s reportage critical of J and K government policies has invited ire from policy makers,” the PCI said in a statement.

The police threatening Tantray to stop reporting against the government or else face consequences refreshens the memory of the Emergency era of 1975, the journalist body added. “The Press Club demands immediate enquiry against the J and K police for unleashing criminal intimidation against Tantray and latter be reinstated in Srinagar as reporter,” it said.

The journalist body noted with deep concern that there has been “depressing trends” of a series of incidents of harassment and intimidation against journalists “who are not toeing the government line of thinking on public policy matters”. “We demand immediate intervention of Union Government and J and K Lt Governor to safeguard the freedom of press and stop further harassment and targeted witch hunting against journalists,” the PCI 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

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