(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the director general of Border Security Forces (BSF, paramilitary forces), Gurbachan Jagat, RSF protested the attack on thirteen photographers, cameramen and journalists by BSF members in Jammu and Kashmir province. The organisation asked that an investigation be conducted to identify and take sanctions against the authors of this attack. […]
(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the director general of Border Security Forces (BSF, paramilitary forces), Gurbachan Jagat, RSF protested the attack on thirteen photographers, cameramen and journalists by BSF members in Jammu and Kashmir province. The organisation asked that an investigation be conducted to identify and take sanctions against the authors of this attack. RSF asked to be kept informed of progress in the inquiry. “The Indian authorities must react severely in order to guarantee the security of journalists working in Kashmir who are now caught in the cross-fire,” noted RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard.
Already in January 2001 Surinder Oberoi, a journalist with Agence France-Presse (AFP) and RSF correspondent in Srinagar, was beaten and issued a death threat by a Kashmir police officer. No measures have been taken against the officer although the chief of police promised this would be done.
According to information collected by RSF, on 10 May, thirteen media professionals were beaten and threatened by members of the 194th BSF battalion in Magam (30 kilometres north of Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir province). The victims are: Kumaramanglam and Sanam Anjum, cameramen with the Enadu TV station, Syed Muzaffar, photographer with the daily “Srinagar Times”, Sheikh Mushtaq, journalist with the Reuters press agency, Faya Kabuli, photographer with Reuters, Fayaz Ahmed, photographer with “Daily Aftab”, Nassir Ahmed, cameraman with the Zee TV station, Bilal Bhat, photographer with “Asian News International”, Ajaz Rahi, photographer with the Associated Press press agency, Mehraj-u-din, cameraman with Associated Press Television, Shujat Bhukhar, journalist with the daily “The Hindu”, Tauseef Mustafa, photographer with AFP, and Missar Ahmed, photographer with the daily “The Hindu”. BSF members led by officer M. Mallik assaulted the media professionals from Srinagar. The officer asked his men to pursue the journalists and beat them with rifles. The Enadu TV cameraman was taken to hospital with a serious head injury. At least six cameras and video equipment were damaged during the attack. The BSF members accused the journalists of increasing tension in the city. The night before, a bomb carried by a suicidal commando, disguised as ice-cream sellers, exploded, killing eight persons. Shooting which followed between separatist groups and security forces seems to have caused the death of one BSF security officer. Later, the BSF officers patrolled the streets destroying shops.
In this Himalayan province claimed by India and Pakistan, several separatist groups have been waging a war against India for several years, in which more than 50,000 people have died. Journalists covering the conflict are caught in the crossfire between separatist groups and security forces.
Ten journalists have been killed in Kashmir since the beginning of the uprising in 1989. Most of these crimes remain unpunished.
