A late-night raid conducted by a police team at the residence of Tariq Iqbal, an employee of KT Press, in Gulistan Colony, Gulab Bagh, has raised serious concerns regarding the conduct of the police and the motivations behind the raid.
The operation involved nearly 30 personnel and 15 vehicles, sending waves of fear and panic through the locality.
Surprisingly, sources revealed that the raid was related to a financial dispute between KT Press and Ghazi Nasrullah, the owner of Mukhtar Kashmir, who allegedly owes around 6 lakh rupees to KT Press. Despite this being a purely financial issue, police reportedly misled by false information, conducted the raid without verifying the details. The raid was one of several directed at the homes of KT Press employees, including Waseem Bashir, Jan Mohammad Wani, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, and Tariq Iqbal, all of whom had been pressing for the overdue payments.
KT Press management had previously lodged a formal complaint with the SSP Srinagar, Imtiaz Hussain, who instructed the Ram Munshi Bagh Police Station to take action. Following initial investigations, SHO Sabzar Ahmed had collected 50,000 rupees in cash from Ghazi Nasrullah as part of the outstanding payment but the full amount was never delivered. Despite repeated phone calls and reminders from employees, the payments were not settled, and the raids continued.
The sequence of events has raised several questions. Critics argue that the Jammu and Kashmir Police, which has earned respect across the country for its professionalism, should not be involved in one-sided actions based on unverified claims. The raids have tarnished the image of the police department, and the employees of KT Press, who have been working honestly for years, feel targeted without just cause.
The larger question now revolves around the costs involved in conducting such raids. Reports indicate that the operation required the deployment of 15-20 vehicles, raising concerns over where the funds for these expenses are being sourced and who will be accountable for the misuse of resources. Moreover, there are growing fears about the potential health impact of these aggressive raids, especially if any elderly or ill residents were affected.
KT Press management has called for immediate action from the senior police officials and the state government to investigate the matter. The company has also questioned the legitimacy of the raids, stating that if this is how employees of the press are treated, it raises serious concerns about the protection of ordinary citizens in the region. The management has urged the government to act swiftly to ensure accountability and transparency, stressing that this issue, if left unresolved, could tarnish the reputation of the police department and lead to further distrust among the public.
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