Srinagar : Five journalists working for a local newspaper in Kashmir have resigned after terror threats appeared against them on social media. Terrorists recently put out a list of over one dozen journalists who were accused of working for security agencies. The names on the list included two editors of local newspapers. Three out of five journalists who quit on Tuesday, have published their resignations on their social media accounts.
It would be pertinent to mention here that on June 14, 2018, an eminent Kashmiri journalist Shujaat Bukhari was assassinated near his office in Srinagar. Four years later, at least four people associated with his founded newspaper "Rising Kashmir" have resigned after militants allegedly put out a list of around 21 journalists, accusing them of working for the security agencies.
The threats against journalists circulated by unverified users on social media networks including Twitter triggered panic amongst the media fraternity in Kashmir. Besides, Editor-in-Chief of Rising Kashmir Hafiz Ayaz Gani, Greater Kashmir's Editor-in-Chief Fayaz Kaloo and ANN News' CEO and MD Tariq Bhat also figure on the list.
While three journalists - Jahangir Sofi, Ishtiyaq Sibtain Joo and Yaqoob Ali - along with Rising Kashmir's accounts manager Shahrayar Bukhari have published their resignations on their social media pages to avoid any trouble after militants threatened any one working for three media houses (Rising Kashmir, Greater Kashmir and ANN News) in Srinagar. However, none of these media houses have issued any statement in this regard so far.
What Police say : The J&K police have registered a case against The Resistance Front (TRF), an offshoot of the Lashkar e Toiba (LeT) issuing threats to the journalists in the region. In a tweet, the Srinagar police said that a case FIR no 82/2022 has been registered under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act at Shergari police station including sections 13 UAPA, 505, 153 B, 124 A and 506 of the Indian Penal Code.
“Case registered against handlers, active militants and Over Ground Workers of terror outfit LeT and its offshoot TRF for online publication and dissemination of a direct threat letter to Journalists and reporters based in Kashmir,” the police tweeted. Meanwhile, a senior police official assured full cooperation and safety to the journalists working in Kashmir. "Why do journalists need to worry and they will be protected from such threats under all circumstances."
"This is a vicious campaign launched against journalists working in Kashmir. They have been accused of working for us but interestingly, we don't even know all of them. I feel these threats are a result of some personal rivalry between journalists. Investigation is under process and few people have been questioned too. Nothing will happen to the journalists who are on the list,” the police official said.
The officer claimed that the statement is baseless as "police have nothing to do with the working of journalists. Since there is a threat perception, we will ensure that they (journalists) won't be harmed. We have offered security to those whose names are in the list and they have been asked to be vigilant."
"The statement – titled ‘charge sheet’ – which was circulated on social media networks and Telegram over the weekend has accused journalists of allegedly working at the behest of police, Army and BJP. This baseless statement has been issued under the infamous “Kashmir fight” label that has targeted journalists in the past as well," the official said, adding, "This is the same blog which ran a provocative piece against Shujat Bukhari 11 days before he was killed. This blog had earlier issued a veiled threat against two other senior Kashmiri journalists — Iftikhar Gilani and Ahmed Ali Fayyaz. The case is still open and investigation is under process."
What Journalists say : On Tuesday evening, Jammu and Kashmir Press Corps (JKPC) condemned the threats circulated by a militant outfit on social media networks. JKPC, in a statement, called upon such elements to end the campaign of intimidation and harassment against journalists.
"The journalists in Kashmir valley risk their lives to provide independent and reliable information and they deserve our admiration, respect and support. The journalists world over understand better than anyone that the media contribute significantly to processes of accountability, reconstruction and reconciliation,” the statement read.
It further said: "However, JKPC is deeply anguished over such intimidation tactics. All the journalists and newspapers in Kashmir have always become the voice of people in highlighting the day-to-day issues of the common masses. JKPC has also urged all governments and public authorities, political leaders, social activists to speak out against harassment of scribes. The society must come out and do everything to ensure that such threats do not jeopardize the vibrant media of J&K."
Meanwhile, a senior journalist wishing anonymity told ETV Bharat that "this is an attempt to silence journalism in Kashmir." "This is nothing new but an attempt to silence journalism in Kashmir. Journalists here are already working under immense pressure and now these threats are adding fuel to the fire. We have lost friends in the past as well, this hostility against journalists should stop somewhere. After these fresh threats, at least four journalists have lost jobs. It is easier to quit than to risk your life," he said while urging the administration for a better environment for journalists.
The blog (Kashmirfight) : According to a police officer who is investigating the killing of Shujat Bukhari, said: "Days before he was killed, a blog post titled “Touts who are betraying the Kashmir struggle” appeared, on the website (kashmirfight.wordpress.com). The website is now banned in India and cannot be accessible without a VPN. We have also written to wordpress to block it."
"The blog which was started on January 10, 2018 has a history of inflammatory and hostile posts. Earlier, the blog was just considered a nuisance but after Shujaat's killing every word of it was taken very seriously and was later blocked in India by the authorities on Jammu and Kashmir police's request," he added.
Speaking about the investigation, he said: "Last year (July 7), five people (Nazish Yasrab Rehmani, Tabish Akbar Rehmani, Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) former Secretary Muhammad Akbar Sofi, Peerzada Raqif Makhdoomi, Javed Khalid) were arrested for their involvement in running the blog. On September 11, last year, a special court of NIA in Srinagar granted bail to two allegedly accused Nazish Yasrab and Javed Khalid from Poonch and imposed the conditions on them. Following which, on September 23, TADA court granted bail to Sofi in the Shujat killing case (FIR number 51/2018) but he is still facing trial in the blog case (FIR number 82/2020 under sections 13,16,18,20 ULAP Act.)"
"Investigation is still in progress and I can't share more details with you yet as the case is in court now. But I would not hesitate in saying that blog and threats have the same source in Pakistan."
