Kashmir Times Condemns SIA Raids, Calls Allegations “Attack on Press Freedom”
Kashmir Times Condemns SIA Raids, Calls Allegations “Attack on Press Freedom”
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The editors of Kashmir Times have strongly denounced recent raids by the State Investigation Agency (SIA) on their office, describing allegations that the newspaper was involved in activities “inimical to the state” as baseless and politically motivated, Maktoob Media reported.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the newspaper called the raids part of a “coordinated crackdown” on one of Jammu and Kashmir’s oldest publications. The editors emphasized that “criticising the government is not the same as being inimical to the state” and that a questioning press “strengthens our nation. It does not weaken it.”
Official sources reported that a case has been registered against the newspaper and its editor, prominent journalist and author Anuradha Bhasin, to investigate alleged links and activities that purportedly “threaten the sovereignty” of India.
The move has drawn widespread condemnation from activists and journalists. Senior journalist Suhasini Haidar of The Hindu wrote, “Democracy dies in darkness…and in silence against such patently politically motivated raids.”
Founded in 1954 by editor Ved Bhasin, Kashmir Times has a long history of documenting political developments, governance failures, and the voices of marginalized communities. The newspaper stated that it is being targeted because of its commitment to “speak truth to power” amid increasing pressures on independent media in the region.
The editors, Prabodh Jamwal and Anuradha Bhasin, called on authorities to halt harassment, withdraw the allegations, and uphold constitutional guarantees of press freedom. They urged civil society and fellow journalists to defend independent media, noting that while the print edition was suspended in 2021–22, the newspaper continues to operate digitally with all reporting publicly accessible on its website.
