Mobilenews24x7 Bureau
Stop thinking for yourself is what comes out from certain developments by alleged cracking down on media by misuse of the anti-terrorism law, Which is, as believed, evident from the arrest of Irfan Mehraj by the INA.
Do not write what you see. Does that mean a journo has to see through the eyes of the rulers which is nothing short of curbing freedom of press.
Mehraj is a Kashmir based journalist has been hounded on similar charges of spreading misnomers tantamount to national safety.
Not he alone but many of them in the fraternity have been bearing the brunt of similar pressure of crackdowns.
Mehraj has been arrested on the alleged charges of having link with terror outfits.
The government insists that it is trying to flush out separatism by arresting those individuals who are accused of being complicit in various militancy-related offences.
The terminology that the government invokes as it clamps down on media persons is not fact-filled , and rather reflective of alarming misuse of anti-terrorism laws.
“It is clear that the government wants us to toe a certain line which pleases it”said Naseer Ahmed, a senior journalist based in Srinagar. “But we have our set of ideals or ethics so, we cannot stop playing the role of an intermediary as required for the people in common”adds Ahmed
It was not expected that Mehraj, who edits a digital news portal was summoned by the NIA and then it was all over. He could not even inform his family or friends. Worries doubled and shocking that he was being taken to Delhi next day.
Then the shocking news for the family that Mehraj was arrested on the charges of being a sympathizer of terror outfits. Now he is in the remand of the police by a court order and further details are awaited.
Local reports suggest that Mehraj was implicated in a funding case of extremists since 2020.
Plus he had close rapport with Khurram Parvez who heads Jammu & Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society(JKCCS). And the latter was funding terror activities in the guise of Human Rights.
What was wrong
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Mehraj was a close associate of Khurram Parvez and was working with his organisation the ‘Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society’ (JKCCS).
“Investigations revealed that the JKCCS was funding terror activists in the valley and had also been in the propagation of a secessionist agenda in the valley under the garb of protection of human rights.”
The flash in the pan was, in 2021 and forced to cease work, JKCCS was among the leading civil society organisations in Kashmir and produced critical work documenting the human rights offences allegedly committed by the armed forces, police, and militant outfits. Even undermining civil liberties was the major allegation.
When Mehraj played a key role in publishing such details and his articles appeared in national media platforms.
Parvez is a recipient of the 2006 Reebok Human Rights Award which recognises activists “under the age of 30 who fought for human rights through non-violent means.”
Parvez was awarded Martin Ennals Award as well, recognising his distinguished work in the field of human rights in January earlier this year. TIME magazine featured him among the 100 most influential people in the year 2022.
The issue of the worsening press freedom scenario in J&K isn’t new but the situation appears to have worsened since August 2019 after the Union government revoked Article 370.
The following year, the J&K administration passed a media policy that reaffirmed further restrictions on the journalists and threatened to strike them off from the official empanelment should they write or publish something that prejudices the integrity of the country.
“At least three Kashmiri journalists Asif Sultan, Sajad Gul, and Fahad Shah are already suffering jail time under the draconian UAPA and Public Safety Act laws. Others have complained about being summoned by the police or other law enforcement agencies where they were questioned over the nature of their work” worries Naseer Ahmed
Even the Press Council of India had in its observation in 2021 had noted the diminishing liberty of the press and forced into silence.
(In arrangement with agencies)
