India: Kashmiri journalists pressured by police for their reporting

Multiple journalists were summoned by police in India-administered Kashmir during December and January, with one pressured to sign an agreement to not report on controversial topics. The IFJ condemns any attempts to suppress the media and the public's right to know through intimidation and censorship.

Supporters of the Jammu and Kashmir People's Democratic Party (PDP) hold placards during a protest in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on December 19, 2025, against Nitish Kumar, chief minister of the eastern state of Bihar, after a recent hijab incident. Credit: Firdous Nazir / AFP

In January, Jammu and Kashmir Police (JKP)summoned at least three journalists working for major publications in Jammu and Kashmir. Two of the summonsed journalists did not attend, with one absent due to travel. Assistant Editor Bashaarat Masood of the Indian Express was one of the three summonedby authorities, and was called to the Cyber Police Station where he was allegedly pressured to sign a pledge to maintain peace within the region by not reporting on "controversial" topics. The journalist refused to sign.

Masood later reported he was subsequently called by police every day between January 14 and 17, each time summoning him to present at the Cyber Police Station. In total, Masood spent 15 hours over four days at the police station.

On January 16, police also took Masood to a Magistrates Court, asking him to sign a bond. When Masood discussed the need for a bond with the magistrate, the magistrate rejected the police request and the journalist was released from police custody. An undisclosed source said Masood was allegedly taken to the magistrate for a 'breach of peace' regarding his reporting on J&K police's distribution of a four-page document on the budget and financial information, including funding and management committees, of local mosques. The Press Club of Kashmir saidin a statement that members of their team were also summoned in the past by authorities and reprimanded for covering stories on religious institutions.

Last month, on December 29, independent journalist Khushal Khwaja based in North Kashmir, was also detainedby authorities after reporting on the closure of Sadhna Passa mountain due to heavy snowfall in the mountainous region. It was alleged his reports contained criticism of the local government by residents. Khwaja was released after being detained a few hours, on the condition that he reported back to the station.

Civic groups such as the Editors Guild of India and unions continue to advocatefor journalists in the Kashmir region, criticising authorities for harassing journalists through coercion and intimidation in prolonged questioning over their reports. IFJ monitoring from November 2025 also documented a police orchestratedraid of the Kashmir Times office for allegedly promoting secessionist ideology. Authorities in J&K continue attempts to censor the media by forcibly shutting down media offices and press clubs, arbitrarily blockingwebsites and social media and legal intimidation.

The NUJI said: "NUJI strongly condemns the incident in Jammu and Kashmir where a journalist was summoned by the police and compelled to sign a bond. This act constitutes a direct assault on the freedom of the press. The Lieutenant Governor and the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir must intervene without delay and initiate action against the police officials involved in this unacceptable act."

The IFJ said: "The authorities' attempt to coerce journalists into legally-binding pledges is a definite abuse of power to censor critical independent reporting in Jammu and Kashmir. The IFJ said authorities must urgently stop stifling crucial voices".