Friday, March 29, 2024

Sajad Gul and India’s obsession to throttle journalism in Kashmir

Intimidation and subsequent arrest of Kashmiri journalist Sajad Gul would not have surprised many in Kashmir and those acquainted with Kashmir. Reporting the truth has always been a daunting task in the disputed region, and such actions against the journalists are in no way new particularly in recent times.

Actions like that of Sajad Gul’s arrest are one of many measures taken by the authority to keep journalists under check.

Sajad Gul’s arrest is reflective of the condition of journalism and treatment of journalists in the valley. While the conflict in the region has been ongoing since the 1990s, its blunts are evident in almost all sections of society including journalism.

Throughout the conflict, journalists have come under the radars. However, the ways in which it is done has become more blatant and harsh. Gul was arrested last week for an alleged anti-national video that he uploaded on his Twitter handle. However, an FIR has lodged him last year for a story that he covered. Sajad is not the only journalist who is facing or has faced such harsh acts from the authorities, the journalism in the region is not an easy road to walk. 

Harsh and strict actions against journalists are not specific to current times not confined to just the valley. Journalists were targeted by the authorities in the past as well and such actions are prevalent in other parts of India as well. Reporters Without Borders ranked India at 142 out of 180 countries in terms of media freedom in 2021. However, the measures are much more stringent in the valley due to obvious reasons. 

The state of local media is dreadful in the valley. The most prominent local newspapers appear more like an advertisement brochure or a government press release. This was not always the case. A person will find a stark difference between the newspapers today and (say) five years ago. Newspapers would freely publish every side of the spectrum. These publications were however brought in line by the authorities, specifically after 2019. The power of finance and intimidation was used to do so. Most of the newspapers gave in and those who didn’t have to face action from the government. Region’s most prominent English newspaper Kashmir Times had to face blunt for what the owner called “Vendetta for speaking out”.

The office allotted to the newspaper was taken away by the government. 

The journalism at the local level is mostly conducted by free independent media outlets in the valley. It is mostly these outlets that have and are bringing out the real situations from the ground. At the same time, it is these outlets and journalists associated with these outlets that are facing subduing and harassment from the authorities. Since most news is brought out by these journalists, they are the targets most of the time. And it is quite evident from the past incidents.

The heads of the two most prominent independent news outlets Kashmirwala and The Kashmiriyat have been targets of Indian law enforcement agencies.

The Srinagar Police had summoned The Kashmir Walla chief Fahad Shah in May 2020 to interrogate him regarding the outlet’s reportage of a firefight in downtown Srinagar’s Nawakadal neighbourhood. 

An FIR was filed against the organisation in January last year for a piece regarding Indian Army forces reportedly pushing a school in the Shopian area to hold a Republic Day celebration.

Jammu and Kashmir authorities detained Kashmiriyat editor Qazi Shibli in July 2019. He was interrogated about his reporting on the deployment of fresh Indian forces in the area. He remained in prison for almost 9 months. 

Apart from these, journalists working freelance and those working for international outlets are coming under the government radar. These journalists pose a threat for putting out information that the authorities don’t want to go out. The freelance journalists mostly working for international outlets have been at the forefront, especially Post August 5, 2019.

Kashmiri journalist Asif Sultan is in prison since his arrest in August 2018 under India’s terror law, UAPA. Sultan worked as an assistant editor at an English magazine in Srinagar. He was charged with “harbouring known extremists,” which he disputes.

Many believe that he was detained for his journalistic work, specifically for an article titled “The Rise of Burhan” that he authored for his publication in July 2018.

After article 370 abrogation, most of the local press was silenced and most of the coverage came in the international press mainly through independent journalists. This was the reason, these journalists were taken to task by the government using different means. Many senior journalists working for national and international organisations were summoned by police. Peerzada Ashiq, Basharat Masood, Naseer Ganai, Gowhar Geelani were few among those called in by the police. 

The surveillance of journalists has become a normal thing in the valley. Journalists are taken to task not just for their work but also for their social media posts as has been the case a number of times and also in the case of Sajad Gul. Over the past two years, more than 40 journalists in Kashmir were summoned for a background check or raided. Many were forced to present themselves to explain their news reports and their social media posts.

Authorities last year came out with a circular list of those who are not allowed to travel abroad following their “adverse report” from the different agencies. out of 43 people on the list, around 22 are from the journalistic fraternity. And most of them worked for international outlets. 

Kashmir has been under bureaucratic rule for the past three years in the world’s largest democracy. Even though things appear to be calmer but it can hardly be termed as peace. In this tussle, the messengers have become the targets.

Hamaad Habibullah is a journalist based in New Delhi. He mainly writes about the politics and history of South Asia. His work has been published in national and international outlets like TRT, Deccan Herald, Indiatimes, TwoCircles, The Citizen.

spot_img

Don't Miss

Related Articles