Four journalists will be arrested after ‘collection of solid evidence’: IGP Kashmir

SRINAGAR — Inspector General of Police Kashmir Vijay Kumar on Thursday asked journalists not to “interfere unnecessarily in investigation of case by spreading false narrative” even as he said four scribes being questioned by police would be arrested “after collection of solid evidences.”

“During investigation of FIR 82/2020 in Police Station Kothibagh, credible evidence was found which links the four persons (journalists) with the mastermind who is behind the blog [email protected]. Based on this evidence, search was conducted at four places with search warrant from Special Designated court under NIA Act, Srinagar on September 8,” IGP Kashmir said in a statement.

“Some mobiles, laptops and other gadgets were seized,” he said in the official statement.

The four journalists, he said, include Mir Hilal son of Ghulam Ahmed Mir of Bemina (Journalist with TRTWorld.Com); Mohammad Shah Abbas son of Abdul Khaliq Shah of Yaripora, Anantnag, presently at Rajbagh (Freelance journalist); Azhar Qadri son of Farooq Ahmed of Bemina (Journalist with The Tribune) and Showkat Motta son of Abdul Samad Motta of Lalbazar (Former Editor-in-Chief of The Narrator and currently working at a wholesale shop).

“All the above four persons were called for questioning and were allowed to go in the evening and have been called again tomorrow,” he said, adding, “Currently scrutiny of electronic gazettes is going on.”

He said various numbers of Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi have been found. However, whether they were part of profession have not been mentioned.

“They are also in contact of many virtual numbers,” he said. The IGP Kashmir said that it wasn’t an issue of harassing journalists.

“He advised all media persons and bodies not to spread false news and don’t interfere unnecessarily in investigation of case by spreading false narrative,” the statement reads, adding, “It is an investigation of an extremely sensitive case. After collection of solid evidences, they would be arrested in this case.”