Archive · 21 Jan 2026
Journalists in Kashmir Summoned by Police
Four journalists in Kashmir, including one from a big newspaper called The Indian Express, were called by the police.
The police wanted them to sign a paper promising not to cause trouble.
One journalist, Bashaarat Masood, was asked to sign this paper because he wrote about the police collecting information from mosques.
He didn't sign it and had to go to different government offices.
Other journalists also got similar calls.
Many important people in Kashmir, like politicians and religious leaders, said this was not right and that the police should not do this to journalists.
This is not the first time journalists in Kashmir have had problems with the police, but it is the first time many journalists from big newspapers have been treated this way.
Opposition parties also expressed concern and demanded that the government not violate freedom of expression and prevent intimidation of journalists.
Four journalists in Kashmir, including Bashaarat Masood from The Indian Express, were summoned by police and asked to sign bonds under Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
The summons were related to their reporting on a controversial police drive to collect information from mosques in Kashmir.
One journalist, Masood, refused to sign the bond and was sent to different government offices, including the deputy commissioner's office and the police station.
Political figures and religious leaders in Kashmir criticized the police action, calling it a serious erosion of press freedom.
Opposition parties, including Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain and PDP's Iltija Mufti, expressed concern and demanded guidelines to prevent intimidation of journalists.
- Who
- Four journalists, including Bashaarat Masood from The Indian Express, and political figures in Kashmir
- What
- Journalists summoned by police and asked to sign bonds, political figures criticizing the police action
- When
- Summons received on January 14, with subsequent visits on January 15 and 16
- Where
- Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir
- Why
- Journalists reported on a controversial police drive to collect information on mosques
- Journalists Summoned
- 4
- Publications Involved
- The Indian Express, others
- Section Invoked
- Section 126 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita
- Reason for Summons
- Reporting on police drive to collect mosque information
- Response from Journalists
- One journalist refused to sign the bond
- Criticism from Political Figures
- Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party, others
- Opposition Figures
- Congress MP Syed Naseer Hussain, PDP's Iltija Mufti
Sources
‘Attempt to silence national press’: Four Kashmiri journalists get police summons
15 hours over 4 days: J&K police call Indian Express reporter to Srinagar station
Opposition raises alarm over journalists summoned by police in Jammu and Kashmir
J&K Police Summon Reporter To Srinagar Station For 15 Hours Across Four Days
Outrage grows against Kashmir police summoning journalists, forcing signed affidavits
‘Tantamount to coercion’: Editors Guild on police summoning Kashmiri journalists
