Post by : Raina
Al-Fahim
NEW DELHI – In a significant move, Indian counter-terrorism units executed a raid on Thursday night as part of an investigation into alleged criminal activities. This operation comes during an intensified examination of groups thought to have connections with secessionist or anti-national organizations within and outside Jammu and Kashmir.
The State Investigation Agency (SIA) stated that the operation focused on a media office linked to a purported “criminal conspiracy with secessionist and anti-national elements.” Authorities reported the seizure of a revolver, live ammunition, and empty bullet casings, prompting additional inquiries. The owner’s residence was also part of the raids.
The media outlet rebuffed the claims as “groundless” and noted that the office targeted in this action has been dormant for the last four years. In a statement released on Friday, they argued that these allegations were intended to “intimidate, delegitimize, and silence” their operations. Since 2022, the outlet has functioned solely online following a prior raid that led to the sealing of their office.
This raid is part of broader security measures following a car bomb explosion near Delhi’s Red Fort on November 10, attributed to a Kashmiri suicide bomber. No official correlation has been established between the Delhi incident and the media office raid.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) voiced concerns over the raid, describing it as “deeply troubling.” They highlighted the increasing pressures faced by media entities in Jammu and Kashmir, especially after the Indian government retracted sections of the region’s autonomy in 2019, leading to harassment, arrests, and home and office raids of several journalists.
Authorities confirmed that the investigation remains active and stated that further actions could follow if links to extremist groups are established.
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