Following the recent crackdown on doctors linked to the Faridabad Red Fort blast, the Hindutva-led Indian government has now turned its attention toward journalists in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, exposing a widening pattern of targeting professionals under the guise of so-called national security.
On November 20, Indian Police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) conducted raids at the Jammu office of the historic Kashmir Times newspaper. The search reportedly recovered live AK-47 cartridges, pistol rounds, and grenade levers. An FIR has been registered naming the publication’s Executive Editor, Anuradha Bhasin, for allegedly indulging in “anti-India activities” and spreading disaffection. Officials described the action as part of ongoing operations against networks allegedly promoting anti-India narratives under the guise of journalism, following intelligence inputs. Bhasin is expected to be extensively questioned regarding her activities.
Analysts noted that the targeting of journalists mirrors earlier moves against medical professionals, suggesting a systematic effort by the Hindutva regime to suppress dissenting voices and intimidate sectors of society seen as critical of its policies.
The SIA is continuing its investigation, and all recovered materials are being examined to determine the extent of potential threats. The targeting of both doctors and journalists underscores the broader pattern of Hindutva’s assault on professional and civil society spaces in occupied Kashmir.
