DIGIPUB News India Foundation on Thursday criticised the reported searches carried out at a Kashmir Times office, saying the action, combined with recent pressure on journalists in Jammu and Kashmir, raises concerns over press freedom.
In a statement, the foundation noted that Kashmir Times Managing Editor Anuradha Bhasin had said the office in question has been “shut for four years” and that she learned of the searches only through media reports. According to her, neither the police nor the State Investigation Agency (SIA) issued any notice or explanation regarding the operation.
Ms. Bhasin said the searches reflected a broader pattern of attempts to curb the functioning of news organisations that advocate dialogue and political engagement in the region.
DIGIPUB said it was alarmed by what it described as a rise in “verification” and “background check” drives targeting journalists in the Union Territory. It argued that such measures have the effect of undermining independent newsrooms and restricting the flow of public-interest information.
“The free press is central to democratic accountability,” the statement said, urging authorities to halt coercive actions against the newspaper and ensure that journalists can carry out their work without fear.
The foundation expressed solidarity with Kashmir Times and with media professionals in Jammu and Kashmir operating under what it called adverse conditions. It reiterated that journalism is not a criminal act and warned that efforts to silence independent reporting erode democratic norms.
The Chenab Times News Desk