Kashmir: Journalist beaten up by cops in Anantnag; Police says ‘looking into it’

On Saturday evening, Jammu and Kashmir police officers allegedly assaulted a journalist on the National Highway in Sangam, Anantnag district, South Kashmir.

According to reports reaching Chenab Times, Akash Hassan, a freelance journalist, was beaten up by police in Sangam while on his way home.

Akash Hassan told Kashmir-based news agency KNO that he was beaten without provocation on the National Highway at Sangam by a sub-inspector rank officer and his PSO.

He claimed that he was driving home from Srinagar to Fatehpur in Anantnag when he became stuck in a traffic jam, but that after more than half an hour, he was simply following the vehicle in front of him.

“All of a sudden, a sub-inspector rank officer and his PSO began beating me, and when I told them I was a journalist, they didn’t stop, and I was hit on the nose and hand,” he said, adding that he was on his way to the hospital.

“I was just beaten up by JKP cops in Sangam as I was driving home and they were cleaning up the traffic. In front of my car, a sub-inspector named Zahid and his one PSO slapped and beat me up with batons—and the barrage of abuses continued “In an injured state, Akash Tweeted along with his photographs.

Meanwhile, officials at the Sangam police station denied the allegations, claiming that he was only asked to stay in the single lane.

Police, on the other hand, stated that they were aware of the problem and that the circumstances surrounding it were being investigated.

“Cognisance taken. Circumstances that led to this being looked into. During rush evening hours a loaded truck got stuck due to mechanical fault on Sangam bridge leading to heavy traffic jamming. Been working hard to clear it. Request all to cooperate with police & avoid confrontation,” Anantnag police Tweeted.

Follow us on

News Desk CT

The Chenab Times News Desk