Journalist Assaulted over ‘Question on Security Failure’ in Pahalgam in IIOJK

An attack on press freedom in IIIOJK has triggered protests, as journalists demand justice after a senior reporter was brutally assaulted while on duty.

A disturbing incident unfolded in Kathua district, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), when Rakesh Sharma, a senior journalist with Dainik Jagran, was violently attacked while covering a political protest organized by BJP leaders.

Sharma was reporting from Kalibari Chowk during a demonstration over the recent Pahalgam incident. What began as routine coverage turned hostile when BJP activist Himanshu Sharma confronted the journalist, accusing him of using “separatist language” for questioning the region’s security arrangements—an area overseen by India’s Home Ministry, led by Amit Shah.

Soon after, the situation escalated. Multiple BJP members, including Ravinder Singh, Ashwani Sharma, Manjit Singh, Tony, and Parveen Chuna, allegedly joined Himanshu in physically assaulting the journalist in full public view.

Sharma was reportedly rescued by Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ravinder Singh, who intervened and rushed him to Government Medical College Hospital for treatment.

A video clip showing the assault has since gone viral, igniting widespread outrage across the journalistic community in Jammu and Kathua in IIOJK.

In response, journalists across the region have launched protests, demanding the immediate arrest of the assailants and registration of an FIR. A group of senior journalists also met Senior Superintendent of Police, Kathua, Shobhit Saxena, seeking swift and decisive action.

Wearing black armbands, journalists staged a demonstration at Shaheedi Chowk, Kathua, and vowed to boycott all BJP events until the culprits are brought to justice. In solidarity, protests were also held outside the Press Club in Jammu, showing regional unity in defense of press freedom.

Political condemnation soon followed. The Pradesh Congress Committee strongly denounced the attack, stating that Sharma’s “only crime” was asking questions about the deteriorating security situation—a journalist’s duty in any democratic society.

The incident highlights increasing pressure on journalists working in IIOJK, where asking critical questions often leads to threats or violence. The media community is now urging both state authorities and the BJP leadership to uphold journalistic rights and hold the attackers accountable.

The growing protests reflect a broader concern over press freedom in conflict zones, and whether journalists can continue to report without fear in regions already dealing with instability and political unrest.