By Humaira Qadri-------------  

Located in the heart of Jammu & Kashmir’s summer capital, Srinagar Press Enclave, which houses offices of many prominent media houses, is a testimony to how journalism became a victim of action from state and non-state actors, curbing freedom of press.

The hub of Kashmir’s media activity is named as ‘Mushtaq Enclave’, in the memory of late video journalist Mushtaq Ali, who was, at the age of 30, killed in a bomb blast in 1995. The attack was targeted at the office-cum-residence of then BBC’s Srinagar correspondent Yusuf Jameel, who himself had a narrow escape in the incident.

In the following days, the needle of suspicion for carrying out the targeted assassination of Jameel pointed towards government agencies. Jameel, who was also picked from his office by the army, had become a threat to authorities as he openly reported on excesses committed by armed forces in Kashmir.

The Press Enclave in the following years also witnessed police raids on offices of several publications. Besides journalists being killed and intimidated while performing professional duties, Kashmir has experienced several publications being banned.

To name a few Kashmir Reader, Kashmir Walla, and Kashmiriyat faced either a temporary ban or were asked to shut shop. Anees Zargar, an independent journalist based in Kashmir, told The News Minute that it has not been easy sailing for media in Kashmir, especially after the abrogation of Article 370.

Offices of Kashmir Times and Greater Kashmir in Srinagar and Jammu have been frequently raided by probe agencies such as NIA. A few years back, police seized thousands of copies of Kashmir’s leading publication Greater Kashmir after authorities objected to a news story it had carried.

“Journalism has never been easy for the past thirty years, especially in the 90s. Later on, it became a lot more difficult. Many journalists, including those who have been active since the 90s, say it is unprecedented. In the past 5 years, we have seen raids happening on residences of journalists,” said Zargar.

Having covered Kashmir for The News Click, Zargar recollected that there have been journalists who have been summoned to police stations, questioned regarding their reporting, and even asked to reveal their sources.

Multiple reasons have made media in Kashmir abide by the government’s censorship diktat. Journalists whose reporting has challenged or embarrassed the government have often faced punitive action, ranging from arrests to repeated summons for questioning.

Recently, Indian Express journalist Basharat Masood was reportedly asked to sign a bond restricting him from publishing stories that could put the government in a difficult position. Fabricated cases against media houses and Kashmir-based journalists such as Sajad Gul, Majid Hyderi, Fahad Shah, Masarat Zahra, and Gowhar Geelani have helped the government tighten the noose around them.

Journalists such as Irfan Mehraj and Asif Sultan continue to remain in detention, with Mehraj stuck behind bars without any trial.

Delhi-based journalist Manisha Pande, who last year visited Kashmir to gauge the mood on how media has been trampled in the region, said she found that raids and arrests of journalists have fueled a deep sense of insecurity.

“The second thing is that the media landscape in Kashmir has always been questioned. It has always been in shades of grey since 2008. The newspapers that are only carrying Modi and Amit Shah and LG on their front pages were earlier used to be considered as a media mouthpiece of separatists,” says Pande.

In 2016, during the Burhan Wani incident, several media houses in Kashmir were accused of inciting violence.

“There is also a question on funding, making these newspapers vulnerable to accusations of having sided with separatists at one time and money finding its way. So, when you are dealing with such a serious charge, you must comply,” Pande further added.

After facing action from government agencies such as ED and NIA, the way local press in Kashmir kneeled to toe the official line is beyond comprehension. Most of the local newspapers, which were once the voice of common Kashmiris, have now turned into mere government mouthpieces.

The irony is such that even Chief Minister Omar Abdullah openly admitted that local media in Kashmir needs to practice more people-driven journalism rather than just appease the government in lieu of advertisements. Ironically, as soon as a journalist or a publication takes an anti-establishment stance, they are pulled up.

Addressing the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly recently, Abdullah said that newspapers which sustain only on government advertisements cannot dispense the true functions of a newspaper.

“The reason being that these newspapers will work only to appease the government. Our effort should be that our newspapers become self-sufficient. We will handhold these media houses with the help of advertising, but there has been a mushrooming of newspapers. Whoever feels like starting a newspaper goes for it, and as a result there are free copies distributed what is the benefit of such a publication? A newspaper that just says that it has published your photo on the front page is only trying to make the government happy,” admitted Omar Abdullah.

Kashmir has seen a mushrooming growth of independent journalists, while hundreds of journalism school pass-outs find local media houses a stepping stone for a career in journalism.

However, the media ecosystem created by the Government of India and its agencies in the Valley has forced many Kashmiri journalists to either go silent or leave the profession altogether. Many journalists who once reported from Kashmir or contributed to local newspapers are now unable to make ends meet.

Several newspapers in Kashmir are denied government advertisements, which has hit them hard. Stuck in a catch-22 situation, Kashmir’s local media has drawn some solace after Jammu and Kashmir CM Omar Abdullah informed the Assembly that there are often complaints regarding advertisements issued by the government’s Information Department using a “pick and choose policy.”

“Let me assure that from our side, there would be no discrimination as far as advertising is concerned. We will issue ads in a transparent manner in the newspapers,” said Abdullah.

Humaira Qadri is a freelance journalist based in Srinagar, Kashmir.

She can be reached at: info.humaira.qadri@gmail.com