KASHMIR MEDIA IN FOCUS

Kashmir based journalists and newspapers have been working in very trying circumstances in the past three decades. Despite all odds and constraints, they have been performing their professional duties without any fear or favor. Kashmir based newspapers in particular have been reporting truth without transgressing the borders of their duties and responsibilities towards the society and government.

In past 48 hours, authorities have filed three FIR’s against three journalists working in Kashmir. They have been charged under stringent law of UAPA and it has invited lot of criticism from the entire media fraternity.

Since the abrogation of article 370 on August 5, last year, there have been lot of complaints by the local journalists that they were questioned, harassed and summoned by police for reporting various incidents from Kashmir valley. There have been many protest demonstrations by Kashmir based journalists against the attitude of UT administration and especially of police while they were performing professional duties on the ground.

The fresh cases filed against three Kashmiri journalists has brought focus on working and difficulties being faced by Kashmir based journalists on the ground while reporting about the incidents happening around them.

They have been facing lot of curbs especially on internet to report from Kashmir in past 8 months. There have been lot of incidents, when Kashmir based journalists registered their protests against the attitude of authorities and they have always described such actions as muzzling of freedom of expression.