A 26-year-old journalist working with a Srinagar-based local daily was detained in a late-night raid on Wednesday, his family said.
This is the first instance of a journalist being into custody since August 5 after abrogation of Article 370, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status and split the state into two Union Territories.
Irfan Ahmad Malik, a journalist working with Greater Kashmir, was picked up by security forces at around 11:30 pm Wednesday from his home in Tral in South Kashmir. Malik’s father Mohammad Amin and mother Haseena told media persons that security forces who were not accompanied by the police, jumped over the wall of the house and started asking the family about Malik. They said the troopers were wearing black bandanas.
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“They took him along. We were shocked. We followed the security forces and they took them to the police station Tral,” said Haseena.
Malik’s family met SP Tahir Saleem Thursday morning who said he might have done some wrong reporting.
It must be noted that Greater Kashmir has not been published for the past few days.
The family was not allowed to meet Malik at the police station. Government spokesman Rohit Kansal in a regular media briefing he said, “I have noted down your concerns. I would collect details and get back to you.”
Hundreds of people including former J&K Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti, legislators and Ministers like Sajad Lone, Ali Mohammad Sagar, Nizamuddin Bhat, ministers and senior leaders of different political parties and separatists groups are under detention since August 5.
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The Valley is under communication blockade since August 4.
