Kashmir Press Club expresses concern over ‘harassment’ of journalists, urges Shah to intervene

Srinagar, Feb 17 : Expressing concern over alleged harassment of journalists by police in the valley, Kashmir Press Club on Monday urged Home Minister Amit Shah and J&K administration to intervene and ensure constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression and speech of the press.

“On Sunday night, a multimedia journalist Kamran Yousuf working with the Newsclick was picked up from his home by the police. Recalling the details, Kamran said that a police party led by Dysp and SHO Pulwama entered his home around 2300 hrs and knocked on the door,” a statement issued by Kashmir Press Club here said.

“I saw policemen surrounding our premises. The police official asked me come along and snatched my phones,” he said.

According to him, he was taken in a police vehicle to the office of Dysp and questioned about some twitter account run by Kamran Manzoor. “They checked my phones and searched everything on it. They asked me about some Kamran Manzoor and showed me his twitter account. The police officer said we had suspicion that you are running it,” Mr Kamran.

He said that finally after failing to find anything that they were looking for, the police official called some officer on phone and let him go at 0100 hrs in the dead of night. “My distraught family members were waiting outside and took me home,” he added.

“The police’s nocturnal raid at the house of a journalist has once again highlighted the dangers faced by journalists in the Valley,” the statement said.

The Kashmir Press Club demanded Mr Shah as well as the J&K government to take note of the appalling conditions in which press in Kashmir is working since August 5 last year. “As such, it is once again urged that the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of expression and speech is being respected in the region by allowing press and journalists to function freely,” it added.