SRINAGAR – The Kashmir Press Club (KPC) on Thursday expressed concern over the alleged harassment of two video journalists by police in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district.
Video journalists Qayoom Khan and Qisar Mir, working for CNN-News 18 and TV9 Bharatvarsh were prevented by the police in presence of SSP Pulwama from conducting their professional work on March 4, KPC said in a statement issued here today.
“Not only this, their camera and two mobile phones were snatched and returned after almost 5 hours,” the statement said.
The KPC issued statement on the basis of a written testimony by Mir. He also alleged that he was thrashed and “made human shield” during the CASO by soldiers at Babgund on February 29.
“These latest incidents indicate that the harassment of journalists and media workers continues unabated in the Kashmir region and is tantamount to muzzling the press,” the statement said.
The Kashmir Press Club wants to bring it on record that it has engaged with the Police authorities at the highest level to convey its concerns about the harassment of journalists by the police since August 5.
“The Club management once again demands the police to sensitize its officers and allow journalists to work without any hurdle,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has expressed disappointment over the ‘yet another example of intimidation’ of journalists by Indian security forces in Jammu and Kashmir.
“It is absolutely unacceptable that the police should confiscate equipment from journalists in this utterly arbitrary manner, thereby violating the confidentiality of their sources,” said Daniel Bastard, the head of RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk.
“Such flouting of the principles of press freedom outside of any legal framework is typical of authoritarian regimes. For the sake of easing tension in the Kashmir Valley, we urge the Indian government to allow journalists to do their job by covering the operations of the security forces, and to respect the confidentiality of their sources,” he added.
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