JournalismPakistan.com | Published January 24, 2019
Join our WhatsApp channelNEW DELHI - The Committee to Protect Journalists called on authorities to fully investigate an incident in which four photojournalists were hit by pellet-gun fire from security forces in Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir State.
The journalists were hit while covering a clash between protesters and security forces in the Shopian region, south of Srinagar, according to the journalists and news reports.
"Violence against journalists is all too common in Indian-controlled Jammu and Kashmir, and it must stop," said Steven Butler, CPJ's Asia program coordinator, in Washington, D.C. "The security forces must take greater precautions when journalists are covering protests."
The injured photojournalists were Nisar ul Haq (pictured) of Rising Kashmir, Waseem Andrabi of Hindustan Times, Junaid Gulzar of Kashmir Essence, and Mir Burhan of the Asian News International news agency, according to the journalists and the news reports.
Haq described the attack in an interview with CPJ, and Andrabi's account of the incident was published in The Wire. The photojournalists said they were on their way to cover an encounter between security forces and militants in Shirmaal village in south Kashmir's Shopian district when they came across a clash in the same area between local youth and the security forces that was part of the same large disturbance, according to Haq.
Upon identifying themselves as journalists, the protesters allowed them passage; however, the security forces opened fire, Haq said. "I raised my camera to show that we were photojournalists and out of nowhere, we were showered with pellets," Andrabi told The Wire.
Haq told CPJ, "There was a loud blast. I fell on the ground. I looked at Waseem [Andrabi]. Even he was down on the ground. His face had turned red. When I looked closer, I realized he was hit by pellets. Waseem told me even my face was hit by pellets." They were rushed to the district hospital by local residents where the pellets were removed, Haq said. According to Haq, he was hit by four pellets on his left hand, eight on his chin, and three near his eyebrow. Andrabi received six wounds from the pellet gun, including on his lips, forehead, and neck, according to The Wire.
A senior police officer with the Jammu and Kashmir police who asked to remain anonymous told CPJ that the journalists were caught in the crossfire because they entered a prohibited area without informing the police. "The entire thing was by accident, not by design. We have spoken to the injured journalists. You have to appreciate the conditions in which we operate in Kashmir. Entering an encounter site without police cover is dangerous. The media and police have shared responsibility. ...We are not against media," the officer told CPJ.
CPJ has documented restrictions and attacks on journalists in Kashmir by security forces in recent months. Kashmir Narrator journalist Aasif Sultan was arrested in August 2018 and has been refused bail. – A CPJ News Alert
February 09, 2025: Hum News Network becomes the first Pakistani channel to embrace AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek, enhancing productivity and innovation. Discover how this visionary move sets new standards in media.
February 08, 2025: As Pakistan faces an economic crisis, the government splurges taxpayers' money on full-page ads and press releases to glorify its achievements. Critics call it a wasteful PR stunt. Read how public funds are being misused for political propaganda.
February 07, 2025: PTV pensioners staged nationwide protests demanding their unpaid pensions, medical benefits, and dues for nearly 400 retirees. Protesters, supported by PFUJ, criticized PTV management for corruption and lavish expenses while neglecting retirees' rights.
February 06, 2025: PFUJ has challenged the controversial PECA Act 2025 in the Islamabad High Court, citing it as an attack on press freedom. Journalists and rights organizations protest the law’s implications for free speech and media independence in Pakistan.
February 06, 2025: Pakistani women journalists like Munizae Jahangir and Asma Shirazi face severe threats, harassment, and online abuse. This article explores the struggles of women in media, the systemic challenges, and potential solutions to ensure press freedom and journalist safety.
January 29, 2025: As the White House welcomes podcasters and digital journalists, Pakistan tightens censorship through PECA amendments, silencing independent voices and forcing journalists into exile. A stark contrast in press freedom emerges.
January 29, 2025: Pakistan’s latest PECA amendments expand government control over social media, criminalize misinformation, and threaten freedom of expression. Media stakeholders and human rights groups condemn the draconian changes. Learn more about the implications for journalists and activists.
January 28, 2025: The Forum for Digital Rights and Democracy has raised concerns over the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Act, 2025, highlighting its risks to free speech, democratic values, and digital rights in Pakistan.
February 09, 2025 The Dart Center Ochberg Fellowship 2025 is open for applications! This prestigious program at Columbia University offers journalists an intensive seminar on trauma reporting, media ethics, and responsible journalism. Apply by March 3, 2025.
February 07, 2025 Mozambican journalist Albino Sibia was killed while filming police brutality, and reporter Pedro Junior was shot covering his funeral. Arlindo Chissale remains missing. These attacks highlight the dire state of press freedom in Mozambique amid post-election unrest.
February 05, 2025 The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the Indian government to stop targeting independent journalism after revoking the nonprofit and tax-exempt statuses of The Reporters’ Collective and The File. Learn how this impacts investigative reporting and media freedom in India.
February 04, 2025 Ukraine’s security service (SBU) has opened a criminal case for disclosure of state secrets following Ukrainska Pravda’s report on statements by military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov. CPJ urges authorities to respect press freedom and journalist protections.
February 03, 2025 Cambodian journalists Duong Akhara and Lay Socheat have been detained on incitement charges after publishing a video allegedly showing torture in a cyberscam center. Press freedom advocates call for their immediate release.