ISLAMABAD
As the world marks the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on Sunday, Kashmiri journalists continue to face harassment, arrests and threats from Indian forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), remaining targets for speaking the truth despite global calls for press freedom.
A report released by Kashmir Media Service on the occasion said journalists in the occupied territory are working under the most trying conditions and are being booked under draconian laws for speaking the truth. The report said the BJP-led Indian government is using strong-arm tactics to strangulate the media in the occupied territory.
Journalists in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) continue to face harassment, arrests, and intimidation under harsh laws such as the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA). Many have been interrogated about their sources, had their equipment seized, or been charged over social media posts and reports labelled “anti-national,” creating an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship.
Since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, press freedom in IIOJK has sharply declined. Local journalists face surveillance and arbitrary detention, while foreign correspondents are denied access or expelled for critical reporting. Al Jazeera reported that Kashmiri journalists are routinely questioned and monitored, with passports confiscated to prevent travel.
Numerous reporters, including Aasif Sultan, Fahad Shah, Irfan Mehraj, Sajjad Gul, and Masarrat Zahra, have been detained under the PSA or UAPA for performing their professional duties. Others, such as Sanna Irshad Mattoo and Gowhar Geelani, have been repeatedly stopped from travelling abroad. Rights groups have condemned these actions as attempts to silence independent voices and control the region’s narrative.
According to The Wire, several Srinagar-based newspapers have been pressured to promote pro-BJP content, with opinion pages avoiding political issues and even publishing AI-generated or plagiarized material. French journalist Vanessa Dougnac was expelled from India in 2024 after years of government pressure for her coverage of Kashmir.
The persecution extends beyond Kashmir. Across India, journalists continue to face grave risks. In 2025, Rajiv Pratap, who investigated political scandals, was murdered in Uttarakhand; Raghvendra Bajpai was shot dead in Uttar Pradesh; and Mukesh Chandrakar, a freelance reporter from Chhattisgarh was killed after exposing corruption.
UNESCO also condemned these killings and urged thorough investigations, warning that impunity encourages further violence against the press. The International Press Institute (IPI) has called on the global community to take urgent steps to end impunity for crimes against journalists, emphasizing that silencing the media strengthens authoritarianism and erodes democracy worldwide.
