Journalism

Summoning of Kashmiri Journalist by NIA a ploy to frighten journalist fraternity, says Geelani

Says journalism in JK is a very difficult task

Srinagar: Strongly condemning the dictatorial actions of strangulating the already suppressed voice of journalism in Jammu and Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference (G) Sunday termed the summoning of Auqib Javeed, a well known journalist associated with ‘The Daily Kashmir Observer’ by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) of India to its Delhi office as ‘a ploy to frighten’ the journalist fraternity and ‘destroy the very ethics of journalism in Jammu and Kashmir’.

Commenting on the fragile position of journalism in Jammu and Kashmir, the spokesperson said that “it is a very difficult task to pursue the norms of a free press in a state of undeclared censorship as implemented by the state authorities.”

The spokesperson expressed his grave concern of involving Auqib Javeed in ‘a baseless and fabricated’ case against a veteran pro-freedom leader, Asia Andrabi and her two associates, Fahmidah Sofi and Nahidah Nasreen by the NIA.

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He termed it as ‘a part of a deep conspiracy against the legitimate demand for Right to Self Determination’.

The spokesperson made a fervent appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Commission to take cognizance of the plight of the renowned resistance leaders lodged in Tihar jail of Delhi, including Shabir Ahamad Shah, Pir Saifullah, Altaf Ahamad Shah, Ayaz Akbar, Raja Meraj-u-din Kalwal, Nayeem Ahamad Khan, Shahidul Islam, Farooq Ahamad Dar, Shahid Yousaf, Zahoor Ahamad Watali, Mohamad Aslam Wani, the victims of political vengeance at the hands of NIA.

The spokesperson saluted the resolve and high morals of the incarcerated pro-freedom leaders and worthy civilians of Jammu and Kashmir.

National Investigation Agency (NIA) Friday sent a notice to a Kashmir based journalist Auqid Javeed and asked him to present himself at NIA headquarters in New Delhi on July 15 due to his ‘acquaintance with the circumstances’ with a case under investigation.

Javeed, at present, working with daily Kashmir Observer as a correspondent has been summoned to NIA headquarters in connection with the case No RC-17/2018/NIA/DLI, Dated 27th April, 2018.

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“It appears you are acquainted with the circumstances of the case which is under investigation by the Superintendent of Police NIA New Delhi under chapter XII code of criminal procedure, you are therefore requested to attend before the undersigned at NIA headquarters on 15 July for the purpose of your examination relating to the case,” reads NIA notice.

The summon, Javeed says, was a shock to him and his family.

“I got a call from Police Station Kothi Bagh. They asked me to meet them,” Javeed says. “I went to the police station. SHO Kothibagh met me with a man who introduced himself as (an official from) NIA. He told me a summon has been sent on my name. I asked him as to what has happened. They said they didn’t have details regarding that but asked me to book a ticket to Delhi for tomorrow,” he had told Free Press Kashmir on receiving the summon.

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