4 Journalists face arrest after ‘collection of evidence, had numbers of Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia: IGP Kashmir

IGP Kashmir Vijay Kumar has said four journalists could face arrest after collection of solid evidence against them and asked journalists not to “interfere unnecessarily in investigation of case by spreading false narrative.” 

“During investigation of FIR 82/2020 Police Station Kothibagh, credible evidence was found which links the four persons (journalist) with the mastermind who is behind the blog kashmirfight@wordpress.com. Based on this evidence, search was conducted at four places with search warrant from Special Designated court under NIA Act, Srinagar on Sept 8,” IGP Kashmir said in a statement to GNS.

Police said that four journalists were quizzed in connection with the investigations related to a blog—Kashmirfightwordpress.com case and they will again be questioned today(Friday) while scrutiny of their gadgets have shown they had numbers of Pakistan, Turkey and Saudi Arabia.

The police also said that the four journalists, whose houses were raided on Wednesday, were in touch with many virtual numbers as well.

Not Harrasment

He said various numbers of Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi have been found. However, whether they were part of the profession have not been mentioned.

“They are also in contact of many virtual numbers,” he said. The IGP Kashmir said that it wasn’t an issue of harassing journalists.

“He advised all media persons and bodies not to spread false news and don’t interfere unnecessarily in investigation of case by spreading false narrative,” the statement reads, adding, “It is an investigation of an extremely sensitive case. After collection of solid evidences, they would be arrested in this case.”

The J&K police conducted raids and detained four journalists in Srinagar on Wednesday.  They were freed in the night.

The journalists in question are Mir Hilal S/O Ghulam Ahmed Mir, R/O- Bemina, Journalist- TRTworld.com, Md Shah Abbas S/O Abdul Khaliq Shah, R/O- Yaripora, Anantnag presently at- Rajbagh, freelance journalist Azhar Qadri S/O Farooq Ahmed, RO Bemina, Journalist- The Tribune and Showkat Motta S/O Abdul Samad Motta R/O- Lalbazar, who was editor-in-chief of The Narrator. Currently working at a wholesale shop.