Crackdown on Media: Indian Agencies Search Kashmir Times Office in FIR Probe

Indian officials raided the Kashmir Times office in Indian-Occupied Kashmir on Thursday. They said the newspaper may be helping separatist narratives, according to Indian media reports.

SIA Starts Raid Early in the Morning

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) filed an FIR that accused the newspaper of spreading anti-national content. After filing the FIR, SIA teams went to the office at 6am.
They called the newspaper’s manager, Sanjeev Kern, to open the building. Officers then checked documents, computers, hard drives, and other items.

Officials told The Indian Express that the SIA may also call editor Anuradha Bhasin for questioning.

They said the operation is part of a larger plan to stop networks that support unlawful propaganda.

Editors Say the Raid Tries to Silence Their Work

Editors Prabodh Jamwal and Anuradha Bhasin released a strong statement. They said the raid is another attempt to silence independent journalism.
They also said the accusations have no basis, and they stressed that criticising the government is not a crime.

They explained that:

• A free and active press keeps democracy strong

• Journalists must question those in power

• Their reporting gives voice to marginalised groups

• Their work strengthens the country, not weakens it

They said they are being targeted because they still publish independent, critical reporting while many others remain silent.

Kashmir Times Says It Will Keep Working

The editors said the authorities want to “intimidate and silence” the newsroom.
They asked the government to end the harassment, drop the accusations, and respect press freedom.

They also urged other media groups, civil society, and citizens to stand up for the right to information, calling this moment a test for journalism in an increasingly authoritarian climate.

The newspaper, founded in 1954, said it has always followed independent reporting, covering both success and failure with fairness.

History of Pressure on Kashmir Times

This raid is not the first. In 2020, the administration sealed the Kashmir Times office without proper notice.
Their print edition stopped in 2021–2022 after constant pressure, but the team continued publishing digital stories.

CPJ Calls the Raid a Deep Concern

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) criticised the raid. It asked the police to return all seized items and avoid filing criminal charges against the reporters.

CPJ’s Asia-Pacific Coordinator Kunal Majumder said the raid shows growing pressure on media in Jammu and Kashmir.
He also asked the authorities to share the legal reason behind the raid.

Bhasin told CPJ that she did not know about any FIR filed against her. She said the Jammu office has been closed since 2022 due to financial issues. The office only had old computers and archived files.

Press Freedom Continues to Shrink in India

Press control in Occupied Kashmir has remained strict for many years.
Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office in 2014, India’s press freedom has continued to decline.

In 2020, India stood at 142nd on the World Press Freedom Index—lower than Afghanistan and Zimbabwe.