Baramulla: In a shocking incident, Karamat Qayoom, senior journalist and Bureau Chief of All India Radio’s Shaherbeen program, was allegedly manhandled and pushed by Tehsildar Baramulla, Mohammed Hussain Mir, during the Deputy Chief Minister’s visit to the Dak Bungalow in Baramulla.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among media professionals and journalist associations.
The Baramulla Working Journalist Association (BWJA) and the North Kashmir Working Journalists Association (NKWJA) strongly condemned the assault, calling it a blatant attack on press freedom. In protest, both associations have announced a boycott of all government events, press briefings, and official functions until a formal apology is issued by the Tehsildar and action is taken against him.
The BWJA described the assault as a grave violation of journalists’ fundamental rights and an attempt to intimidate the press. They demanded an impartial investigation and urged the government to ensure journalists’ safety while performing their duties. The NKWJA echoed these concerns, warning against the growing trend of harassment and intimidation of journalists in North Kashmir.
With strong solidarity across the media fraternity, journalists have called for immediate action to prevent such incidents in the future and ensure accountability. Both BWJA and NKWJA have urged the government and civil society to take a stand against attacks on press freedom, emphasizing the critical role of journalism in a democratic society.
