Press Council of India (PCI) has decided to send a three-member ‘fact-finding’ team to probe the alleged intimidation and harassment of journalists in Kashmir.
This move comes after PDP President Mehbooba Mufti raised concern over the treatment of journalists in Kashmir. The former Chief Minister has since made communication with Press Council urging action.
“The Hon’ble chairman, Press Council of India while taking a suo moto cognisance on the communication of Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, President PDP concerning intimidation and harassment of journalists in Jammu and Kashmir has constituted a three member Fact Finding Committee consisting of S/Shri Prakash Dubey, Convener and Group Editor Dainik Bhaskar; Gurbir Singh, Journalist, The New Indian Express; and Dr Suman Gupta, Editor, Jan Morcha, Member of the committee to inquire into the matter,” the PCI letter reads.
The top statutory press body has urged J&K authorities to “extend full cooperation and assistance”. The letter also says the “fact finding committee is required to make a thorough probe into the matter holding discussion with the concerned authorities and the affected journalists and collect such information as it deem fit to submit its report to the Council at the earliest”.
Mehbooba had written to the PCI two days ago to apprise the Council of issues related to raids against journalists, the summons issued to them and the cases filed under controversial anti-terrorism laws, such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Journalists Targeted.
In recent months the harassment of journalists in Kashmir has become a matter of concern.
Earlier this month, authorities raided the residences of at least four journalists. 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.
Reacting to the raids, the Paris-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) asked the J&K Police to “stop raiding the homes of journalists and immediately return any seized electronic device”.
UN Human Rights Body has described India’s use of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) as ‘worrying’ as well as “frequent” temporary communication blackouts in Jammu and Kashmir.