Newspaper owner accuses police of ‘harassment’

SRINAGAR — A senior journalist and the owner of a Daily has accused police of ‘harassment’ and ‘humiliation’ in Srinagar area falling under the jurisdiction of Police Station Khanyar.

“I was humiliated and harassed. Police party led by SHO Khanyar didn’t honour the valid movement card issued by the office of District Development Commissioner Srinagar. My mobile phone was confiscated and the photographs that I had captured were deleted,” Javaid Ahmed Shah, the owner of newspaper ‘Good Morning Kashmir’, who arrived in Press Enclave Srinagar on Tuesday said.

He alleged that policemen even abused him when he revealed his identity. “Everyone was walking smoothly and even traffic was plying normally. The police party targeted only me and probably they were infuriated after seeing my Press Card,” he said.

The incident, according to the journalist, occurred on Monday evening near Munawarabad Petrol Pump.

“I was shocked the way these policemen misbehaved with me. I captured photographs as proof but they snatched my phone and deleted those photographs,” he added.

Javaid Ahmed Shah said that he has brought the matter into the notice of SSP Srinagar who assured probe into the incident. “SSP Srinagar told me that he will ask SP North to ascertain the facts and if misconduct on part of policemen proves, action will be initiated.”

When contacted, SHO Khanyar said that the journalist was stopped like others and asked where he had to go. “He had clicked some photographs and we asked him to delete them,” he said and downplayed the incident.