Press Freedom Under Siege: India’s War On Journalism In Kashmir And India

Across the world, journalists stand for truth and public awareness. Yet in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), they are being silenced through fear, arrests and censorship. Since the revocation of Article 370 in 2019, the BJP-led Modi government has made journalism a dangerous act.

♦ State-Backed Control:
Indian authorities have built a climate of fear where journalists cannot work freely. Anyone exposing human rights abuses or criticising official policies faces detention, harassment or surveillance. This campaign hides the truth about India’s control over Kashmir.

Media Under Siege In Occupied Kashmir

Kashmiri journalists face daily intimidation, raids, arrests and questioning. Independent journalism has been replaced with fear and censorship.
♦ Use Of Harsh Laws:
Reporters are charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and the Public Safety Act (PSA), both allowing detention without trial. These laws silence voices that report on violence, protests or abuses.
♦ Silencing Through Fear:
Constant pressure has forced journalists to avoid sensitive topics. Many now censor their work to survive. The truth from Kashmir rarely reaches the public anymore.

Modi Government’s War On Independent Journalism

Since 2014, the BJP regime has turned the press into a controlled tool. The 2020 media policy allows officials to decide what news is “fake” or “anti-national,” crushing freedom of expression.

♦ Harassment And Seizure:
Journalists are called in for questioning, their phones and laptops taken, and their sources exposed. According to the Kashmir Media Service report, dozens of journalists have been booked or interrogated since 2019.

♦ Arrests As Intimidation:
The list of detained journalists continues to grow. Aasif Sultan was arrested in August 2018 under the PSA for writing about a gunfight in Srinagar. Masarrat Zahra was charged under the UAPA in April 2020 for posting photographs online. Sajjad Gul was detained in January 2022 and re-arrested even after bail. Irfan Mehraj was held in March 2023 under anti-terror charges, while Fahad Shah, editor of The Kashmir Walla, remains in jail under the PSA. Peerzada Ashiq faced a complaint in April 2020 for reporting on exhumations. These arrests show how the Modi government equates truth with rebellion.

Lives Of Fear And Resistance

Behind every report is a story of struggle. Journalists live under constant surveillance, with travel bans and confiscated passports.

♦ Continuous Monitoring:
A journalist in Srinagar told Kashmir Media Service that over the last six years, at least twelve journalists have been under constant watch. They are forced to explain their stories and travel records, while most cannot attend global events.

♦ Punished For Truth:
Photojournalist Masarrat Zahra was charged for showing life under occupation. Sanna Irshad Mattoo, a Pulitzer Prize-winning photojournalist, was stopped from flying abroad to attend exhibitions in France, the United States and Germany. Their only “crime” was honest reporting.

The Fake Picture Of Normalcy

India promotes a false image of “peace” in Kashmir to deceive the world. Beneath that image lies media control and repression.

♦ Engineered News:
The Wire found that editorials in Srinagar newspapers push pro-BJP stories while avoiding the Kashmir dispute.

♦ Propaganda Over Facts:
Some reports are copied from pro-government groups such as the Observer Research Foundation, while others use artificial content. This manipulation hides the suffering of the people and silences reality.

Crimes Against Journalists Across India

The danger extends far beyond Kashmir. Across India, journalists are attacked or killed for exposing corruption and political scandals. Since 2014, more than 20 journalists have been arrested under harsh laws.

♦ Murders Of Reporters:
In September 2025, journalist Rajiv Pratap went missing in Uttarakhand. His body was found ten days later at the Joshiyara hydroelectric barrage in Uttarkashi district. In March 2025, Raghvendra Bajpai, a Dainik Jagran reporter, was shot dead in Sitapur district, Uttar Pradesh. In January 2025, Mukesh Chandrakar, a freelancer from Chhattisgarh, was found dead in a septic tank after exposing corruption in a ₹120 crore road project.

♦ Impunity And Silence:
Investigations into these murders have failed. The Modi government’s silence protects the powerful. Even UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay urged a full investigation, warning that impunity encourages more crimes.

Global Concern And India’s Defiance

International organisations have condemned India’s record on press freedom, but New Delhi ignores all criticism.

♦ Global Warnings:
The International Press Institute (IPI) and UNESCO have urged India to stop persecuting journalists. The IPI 2025 General Assembly called for action against impunity, warning that silence fuels authoritarianism.

♦ Western Double Standards:
Despite strong evidence, many Western countries remain silent due to economic and political interests. Their silence has allowed India to continue its repressive control over media.

Conclusion: Truth Will Endure

♦ Truth As Defiance:
India’s image as the “world’s largest democracy” is collapsing. The Modi government has turned journalism into an act of defiance. From Srinagar to Uttar Pradesh, journalists risk their lives for truth.

♦ Need For Global Action:
The world must go beyond statements. Sanctions, investigations and diplomatic pressure are needed to stop India’s war on media. The courage of journalists such as Aasif Sultan, Fahad Shah, and Sajjad Gul proves that even in darkness, the spirit of truth remains alive.