NEW DELHI: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the J&K Police on Thursday raided the Jammu office of the Kashmir Times, alleging that the publication was involved in activities “against the country., Officials said the search led to the recovery of AK rifle cartridges, pistol rounds and hand-grenade pins, among other items.According to officials, SIA teams examined the newspaper’s premises and computer systems after registering a case against the publication and its promoters. The promoters are likely to be questioned as the investigation proceeds.Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Singh Choudhary, reacting to the raid, said action must be based on evidence and not pressure.“The agencies are doing their work. If a raid has to be conducted, it should not be done on a pick-and-choose basis. If they have done anything wrong, action should be taken, but not just to create pressure. The Press is the fourth estate, and it should get space to practice journalism,” Surinder Choudhary told reporters.
Raid an attempt to “silence” independent media
The Kashmir Times management sharply criticized the raids, calling the allegations of anti-state activities “baseless” and part of a broader attempt to silence “independent journalism.”Editors Prabodh Jamwal and Anuradha Bhasin, in a joint statement, said, “The reported raids on our office in Jammu, the baseless accusations of activities inimical to the state and the coordinated crackdown on the Kashmir Times are yet another attempt to silence us.”“Criticizing the government is not the same as being inimical to the state. In fact, it is the very opposite. A robust, questioning press is essential to a healthy democracy,” they said, adding that their “work of holding power to account, investigating corruption, amplifying marginalized voices strengthens our nation. It doesn’t weaken it.”The editors also highlighted the newspaper’s long legacy since its founding in 1954 by Ved Bhasin. “We have chronicled the region’s triumphs and failures with equal rigor. We have given voice to communities that would otherwise go unheard. We have asked difficult questions when others remained silent,” they said.They alleged that the organization was being targeted precisely for its independent reporting. “In an era when critical voices are increasingly scarce, we remain one of the few independent outlets willing to speak truth to power.”Calling the allegations an intimidation tactic, they said, “We call on the authorities to immediately cease this harassment, withdraw these unfounded allegations, and respect the constitutional guarantees of press freedom.”They urged authorities to withdraw the charges and end the “harassment,” appealing to civil society and media colleagues for support.“Accountability is not treason. And we will continue to inform, investigate, and advocate for those who depend on us. The state may have the power to raid our offices. But it cannot raid our commitment to the truth. The editors noted that while the paper’s print edition was suspended in 2021–22 due to “relentless targeting,” Kashmir Times continues to operate digitally, with all content accessible on its website.
