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February 05, 2026 – Kashmir –
Multiple journalists working in Jammu and Kashmir have been summoned and pressured by regional police amid routine reporting assignments, drawing sharp criticism from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and media freedom advocates who say such actions threaten press independence and the public’s right to information.
According to the IFJ, at least three journalists from major news outlets in the region were called by Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP) during December 2025 and January 2026 in connection with their reporting. One of the journalists, Bashaarat Masood, assistant editor at the Indian Express, was summoned repeatedly to a Cyber Police Station and allegedly pressured to sign a pledge to avoid reporting on “controversial” topics under the pretext of maintaining peace. Masood refused to sign the document, resisting what rights advocates describe as an attempt to curtail editorial freedom.
Masood reported that between 14 and 17 January, police called him daily to present himself at the station, with the interactions amounting to 15 hours of compelled presence over four days. On 16 January, officers also took him to a magistrate’s court seeking a signed bond related to his reporting; the request was rejected by the magistrate, and Masood was released without signing any agreement.
Human rights and press freedom groups note that this development reflects broader patterns of intimidation and coercion faced by journalists in the disputed region, where media workers have frequently encountered police questioning, legal pressure, and harassment related to routine news coverage. Additional accounts from journalists in Srinagar describe similar summons and pressure tactics by law enforcement officials, at times linked to reports on policing or sensitive local issues.
The IFJ condemned the use of police summons as a means to influence reporting, stating that journalists must be able to work free from intimidation, harassment, or censorship and reaffirming that the public’s right to know should not be impeded by official pressure. Organisations advocating for press freedom argue that such practices can have a chilling effect on independent reporting and discourage coverage of topics that may hold authorities accountable.
Kashmir’s media environment has been under international scrutiny in recent years, with multiple journalists having been detained, summoned, or otherwise harassed in association with their work. Rights groups emphasise that state actions involving intimidation tactics raise concerns about press freedom protections and highlight the need for robust legal safeguards for journalists operating in politically sensitive regions.
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