The Kashmir Times, one of Jammu and Kashmir’s oldest and most outspoken newspapers, has accused authorities of attempting to “intimidate and silence” the press after police raided its Jammu office on Thursday, alleging the publication was involved in activities “against the country”.
Officials from the State Investigation Agency (SIA), a specialised arm of the Jammu and Kashmir police, carried out an hours-long search of the newspaper’s premises, scrutinising computers, documents and electronic devices. According to PTI, the SIA claimed to have recovered AK-rifle cartridges, pistol rounds and other unspecified materials from the building , allegations the newspaper has described as “baseless and designed to delegitimise”.
The raid comes amid a broader backdrop of growing scrutiny of media organisations in the region, where journalists have frequently accused authorities of harassment, intimidation and the criminalisation of critical reporting since Jammu and Kashmir lost its semi-autonomous status in 2019.
Responding to the raid, Jammu and Kashmir’s Deputy Chief Minister, Surinder Singh Choudhary, urged caution from law enforcement agencies, warning that investigations must not be used as a tool for pressure.
“If they have done something wrong, then action should be taken,” he told reporters. “If you do it only to build pressure, then that will be wrong.”
Despite the cautionary remarks, authorities maintained that the raid followed the registration of a case against the newspaper’s promoters, who they say may soon face questioning.
In a sharply worded statement, the Kashmir Times condemned the operation as the latest in a series of attempts to suppress independent journalism in the region.
“The reported raids on our office, the baseless accusations of activities ‘inimical to the state,’ and the coordinated crackdown on the Kashmir Times are yet another attempt to silence us,” the editors, Prabodh Jamwal and Anuradha Bhasin, said.
“Criticising the government is not the same as being inimical to the state. In fact, it is the very opposite.”
The statement stressed that a questioning, investigative press was “essential to a healthy democracy,” adding that its reporting , which often focuses on governance failures, human rights concerns and marginalised communities — strengthens the nation rather than undermines it.
Founded in 1954 by Ved Bhasin, the Kashmir Times built its reputation on independent reporting through some of the most turbulent decades in the region. It has frequently found itself at odds with authorities, particularly during periods of heightened political sensitivity.
Its print edition was suspended in 2021–22 following what the publication described as “relentless targeting” by the administration, including eviction from its Srinagar government-allotted office. Despite the setbacks, the paper has continued operating digitally.
“We will not be silenced,” the newspaper reiterated.
“Journalism is not a crime. Accountability is not treason. And we will continue to inform, investigate, and advocate for those who depend on us.”
The raid has renewed concerns among journalists and press freedom advocates, who argue that the space for dissent and scrutiny in Jammu and Kashmir has sharply narrowed in recent years. Several reporters have faced charges ranging from sedition and terrorism to unlawful activities under the UAPA.
For many in the region, Thursday’s operation appears to reinforce an increasingly familiar pattern: state agencies framing critical journalism as a threat to national security.
Still, the newspaper insists that its commitment remains intact.
“The state may have the power to raid our offices,” its editors said. “But it cannot raid our commitment to the truth.”
