AK rifle’s rounds, cartridges recovered in raid at Kashmir Times’ office

The Kashmir Times, established in 1954, is one of the oldest and most prominent newspapers of Jammu and Kashmir

During a raid at Kashmir Times’ office in Jammu on Thursday, AK rifle rounds, cartridges, pistol rounds and three grenade levers were recovered, sources told CNN-News18.

The State Investigation Agency (SIA) conducted raids at the office located on Jammu’s Residency Road for allegedly promoting activities against the country.

Officials said that SIA sleuths conducted a thorough search of the publication's premises and computers after a case was registered against it and its promoters.

The SIA has booked the “Kashmir Times” over articles it claims endangered public law and order, according to a CNN-News18 report. Notably, the Jammu and Kashmir administration had sealed the daily’s Press Enclave office in Srinagar back in October 2020.

In response, the management of Kashmir Times said that the raids at its office are yet another attempt to silence them. They alleged that the organisation was being targeted for continuing to pursue independent reporting.

“We are being targeted precisely because we continue to do this work. In an era when critical voices are increasingly scarce, we remain one of the few independent outlets willing to speak truth to power. The accusations levelled against us are designed to intimidate, to delegitimise, and ultimately to silence. We will not be silenced," read the statement.

The Kashmir Times, established in 1954, is one of the oldest and most prominent newspapers of Jammu and Kashmir.

Reacting to the raids, Jammu and Kashmir deputy chief minister Surinder Singh Choudhary said action should follow only in cases where wrongdoing is established and not for the sake of pressure.

"If they have done something wrong, then action should be taken. If they have done wrong, they will face the consequences. But it should not be done just to pressurise. If you do it only to pressurise, then that will be wrong", Choudhary told reporters.

Referring to the SIA action, he said he would not comment on the functioning of the agencies' investigations but stressed the need for uniform standards. “If you want to conduct raids, then carry out raids on everyone. Do not pick and choose,” he said.

(With agency inputs)