‘Journalism Is Not A Crime’: Kashmir Times Rejects SIA’s Ammo-Recovery Claims After Office Raid
The Kashmir Times has strongly condemned the reported raids by the Jammu and Kashmir State Investigation Agency (SIA) on its Jammu office, calling the allegations against the newspaper “baseless” and an attempt to silence independent journalism in the region.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the newspaper said it had received no official communication regarding any raid or inquiry. It also clarified that the office mentioned in media reports has been shut for the past four years and has not been operational during that period.
Calling the accusations of activities “inimical to the state” both “bizarre” and “unfounded,” the publication said criticism of the government cannot be equated with anti-state behaviour. “A robust, questioning press is essential to a healthy democracy,” the statement read. “Our work strengthens the nation — it does not weaken it.”
Founded in 1954 by veteran journalist Ved Bhasin, the Kashmir Times described itself as one of the region’s oldest independent media organisations. The paper said its decades-long commitment to reporting on governance, human rights, corruption, and marginalised voices is precisely why it is being targeted now.
The Jammu and Kashmir Police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) on Thursday said it recovered AK-47 cartridges, pistol rounds, and three grenade levers during a raid at the Jammu office of the Kashmir Times. According to PTI, the search operation began earlier in the day and was still underway at the time of reporting.
Officials told PTI that SIA teams searched the newspaper’s office, computers, and associated premises after registering a case against the publication and its promoters. The agency claimed that arms-related items were found during the operation.
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The organisation’s print edition was suspended in 2021–22 after what it called sustained pressure and harassment, though its digital operations have continued.
“The accusations are designed to intimidate, delegitimise, and ultimately silence,” the statement said. “We will not be silenced.”
The newspaper urged authorities to withdraw the allegations and stop what it termed the continued harassment of independent media. It also appealed to journalists, civil society groups, and citizens to recognise the broader threat to press freedom.
“Journalism is not a crime. Accountability is not treason,” the statement concluded.
