Six senior journalists from Kashmir were barred from covering R-Day function at Sher-e-Kashmir Stadium by the Jammu and Kashmir police following an ‘adverse report’ from Criminal Investigation Department (CID), a media report said today.
The Indian Express reported that a letter by Security Wing of the state police signed by the Additional Superintendent of Police, Security, Kashmir, mentioned a CID report to bar all the six journalists to cover the R-Day function at the venue.
“The CID report in respect of below mentioned persons belonging to Media group have been found adverse and you are directed not to permit them inside the venue as their media cards for Republic Day 2019 treated as cancel,” the letter said.
The letter named Mehraj-ud-Din and Umar Mehraj (father-sonduo), Bureau Chief and video journalist respectively of Associated Press Television (APTN), AFP photojournalist Tawseef Mustafa, ANI Bureau Chief Bilal Ahmad Bhat, Reuters photojournalist Danish Ismail Wani, and Daily Kashmir Uzma/Greater Kashmir photojournalist Aaman Farooq.
All six journalists are accredited with the Information Department of the J&K government. Soon after these journalists were denied entry to the venue, all journalists boycotted the Republic Day function. In the afternoon, journalists took out a rally in Srinagar to protest against the police action.
Additional Director General of Police, Security and Law & Order, Muneer Khan told The Sunday Express: “Once this matter was brought to my notice, I sought a detailed report from SSP Security.”
Advisor to governor Vijay Kumar has said that the issue will be looked into.
