In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, several journalists, including the Editor-in-Chief of Srinagar-based daily newspaper ‘Kashmir Reader’, Haji Hayat, were detained by New Delhi-controlled State Investigation Agency (SIA) in Srinagar and other parts of the territory.
The SIA along with paramilitary and police personnel raided and searched several houses and offices of journalists in Srinagar, Badgam, Baramulla, Bandipora, Shopian, Pulwama and Kishtwar districts.
Editor-in-Chief of ‘Kashmir Reader’, Haji Hayat was detained after his house was raided in Pampore area of Pulwama district. He was brought to Shergarhi police station in Srinagar where he was interrogated.
The SIA also arrested journalists Showkat Motta in Srinagar, Ishfaq Reshi in Badgam and Saqib Magloo in Srinagar and seized their mobile phones, computers, laptops and banking documents.
Notably, the journalists, Khalid Gul, Muhammad Raafi Waseem Khalid, Raashid Maqbool and others have been visiting the Shergarhi police station in Srinagar for six consecutive days now.
Meanwhile, the SIA also detained Minhaj Bashir during a house raid in the Tund area of Kishtwar town. Minhaj Bashir is reportedly pursuing a nursing course from a local institution. The Indian officials said that electronic devices, including one mobile phone, have been seized by the raiding SIA team from Minhaj.—KMS
