Press groups criticise summons to journos
Srinagar, Jan. 22 -- The Editors Guild of India and the Committee to Protect Journalists(CPJ) on Wednesday expressed concerns about police orally summoning Srinagar-based journalists, a day after similar criticism from political parties on the same issue.
For the past several days, reporters working for national media organisations have reportedly been called to the Cyber Police Station in Srinagar for questioning. The inquiries are linked to the January 13 news report on the profiling of mosques and imams in the Union Territory. Hindustan Times' correspondent in Srinagar also received an oral summons, but HT has sought a written summons, with reason, so that it can respond.
The Editors Guild of India (EGI) noted that according to reports, the journalists were pressured to sign bonds or affidavits "to the effect that they will not undertake any activity to 'disturb the peace', whatever that may mean or imply."
"...the Guild reiterates that there can be no space for such arbitrary actions in a democracy, of which the media is a key pillar," the guild said.
The Committee to Protect Journalists in a statement, called for authorities in Kashmir to immediately end the "harassment and intimidation of journalists".
"Using police powers to summon journalists over their legitimate reporting is part of a pattern of intimidation against the media in Jammu and Kashmir," said CPJ Asia-Pacific Program Coordinator Kunal Majumder in the statement.
Police have yet to issue a formal statement regarding the summons. Parties across the political spectrum, barring the BJP, criticised the move on Tuesday....
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