SRINAGAR: Indian authorities have reportedly issued threats of legal action against the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) following the publication of an article that exposed the Narendra Modi government’s crackdown on journalists working in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
According to a report released by the Kashmir Media Service (KMS), the BBC’s article titled ‘Any story could be your last’ shed light on the systemic intimidation and harassment faced by Kashmiri journalists within IIOJK.
The report highlighted that Kashmiri journalists have been enduring escalating levels of victimization at the hands of Indian authorities, a situation exacerbated since August 5, 2019, when the Modi government revoked Kashmir’s special status and imposed a military siege on the territory.
In Indian occupied Kashmir, press freedom has come under severe threat, with daily occurrences of raids, summons, harassment, arrests, and even physical abuse targeting journalists. The report pointed out that the Indian authorities, under the Modi regime, are employing strong-arm tactics to coerce Kashmiri journalists into silence.
Indian Govt’s Efforts to Muzzle Free Press in IIOJK
Calling for action, the report emphasized the need for all advocates of press freedom to raise their voices against the relentless assault on journalists in IIOJK. The intimidation, harassment, and physical attacks are designed to obstruct them from carrying out their crucial roles in the occupied territory.
The report lamented that India’s efforts to muzzle the free press in Kashmir are aimed at concealing ground realities from the world, and the assault on journalists in IIOJK serves as a stark reminder for global media organizations.
The report asserted that the Modi government cannot conceal its actions by suppressing media in IIOJK, and Kashmiri journalists will continue to fight for their democratic and constitutional rights, leaving no stone unturned in their pursuit of justice.
