NIA Asked to Come Clear on the Arrest of Kashmiri Journalist

Various Kashmir-based media bodies have urged National Investigating Agency (NIA) to come clear on the recent arrest of a young journalist Kamran Yousuf in South Kashmir.

Kamran, who worked for state’s leading daily Greater Kashmir and two other publications as a freelance photographer, was summoned by local police on September 4 and later handed over to NIA on charges of stone-pelting. He was flown to Delhi and was sent to 10-day police custody by an NIA court.

Following his arrest, a joint meeting was held by several media associations including Kashmir TV Journalists Guild, Kashmir Journalist Core, Kashmir Video Journalists Association and Kashmir Press Photographers Association on Friday.

“The members in the meeting unanimously agreed that everyone among their associations have known Kamran Yousuf as a freelance media professional working from south Kashmir. The NIA should come clear on the charges being slapped on Kamran,” a joint handout from the groups read. 

Media personnel in the Valley held demonstration - with lesser attendance - earlier as well, against the arrest and called for his release. Many accused the state agency of targeting Kamran for his fearless work especially during the year long protests in 2016.

The Young Journalist’s Association will also be holding a protest on Sunday in Srinagar’s Press Enclave against Kamran’s arrest.

Protests were called much later, after many expressed their disappointment over the role of Kashmir’s media fraternity over the issue. Many accused them of maintaining criminal silence for over a week since the journalist was held.

Many netizens especially media professionals, however, expressed enrage over the arrest and demanded his release. “We need to stand up for Kamran and if nothing more, we can at least demand to know what is the evidence against him. Taking pictures, shooting videos, being at the spot are all legitimate journalistic activities. That is no crime,” a senior Kashmiri journalist wrote on Facebook.

Journalists in Kashmir face greater risks while reporting as they are often caught between warring sides. Nearly six were injured in 2016 unrest with at least one of them Zuhaib Maqbool partially blinded as he was shot at by government forces with pellets. The press freedom in the state has always been targeted with frequent gags, bans and other violations. 

Earlier this week, the Modi government asked micro-blogging site Twitter to block 100 accounts and tweets for “propagating objectionable content” related to Kashmir.  The tweets included those from Kashmiri journalists as well.

As Kamran’s fate hangs in balance and awaits an intervention from his fraternity, the Kashmir-based media associations have decided to continue their protest for Kamran after their busy schedule in the wake of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s four day visit to the state is over.