Jammu: The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Jammu and Kashmir Police on Thursday carried out a high-profile search at the Jammu office of Kashmir Times, in connection with a case alleging the promotion of “anti-national activities.”
Officials said the operation involved a thorough inspection of the newspaper’s premises, including documents, digital devices, and computer systems. During the search, investigators reportedly seized AK-series rifle cartridges, pistol rounds, and other items, which have been taken into custody for further examination.
The action follows the registration of a case against the publication and individuals associated with it. Kashmir Times editor Anuradha Bhasin has previously been in the national spotlight for filing a Supreme Court plea in August 2019 challenging communication restrictions in Jammu and Kashmir after the abrogation of Article 370.
Reacting to the raid, J-K Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Singh Choudhary said any action against the media house should be taken only after the charges are firmly established. “If they have done something wrong, then action should be taken. But it should not be done just to pressurise. Doing it only to intimidate would be wrong,” he told reporters.
The raid has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders. Iltija Mufti, PDP leader and daughter of former Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, slammed the action, saying, “Kashmir Times is one of the rare newspapers in Kashmir that spoke truth to power and refused to bend under pressure. Raiding their offices under the guise of anti-national activities is preposterous and reeks of high-handedness. In Kashmir, every outlet of truth is being choked by invoking the anti-national slur. Are we all anti-nationals?” she wrote on X.
