IIOJK authorities justify police, SIA presence at Srinagar Press Club
Jammu: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, amid growing media criticism over the deployment of a police station and State Investigation Agency (SIA) offices within the premises of the Srinagar Press Club, the authorities have attempted to justify the move by citing “the absence of formal orders granting possession of the building.”
According to Kashmir Media Service, this was stated by the authorities in response to a question in the IIOJK assembly asked by lawmaker Waeed Parra regarding the reasons for not reinstating the Press Club in its original location and the measures taken to provide an alternative space.
It was said that the building was handed over to the Press Club based on verbal directions following an announcement by the then Chief Minister during a budget session.
In 2022, the building was reclaimed by the government after a reference from the Directorate of Information.
Later that year, a fire incident gutted a building that housed key police offices, including the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) City East, Srinagar.
These offices were shifted to the Press Club building as “a temporary measure”. However, the authorities formally allotted the premises to the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the State Investigation Agency (SIA) through an official order dated September 21, 2023.
Since then, no concrete plan has been shared regarding the allocation of a new location or timeline for the establishment of a dedicated press facility.
Media bodies, however, rejected the justification, terming the move a deliberate attempt by the Modi-led Indian regime to stifle the media as a result of new media policy in the occupied territory particularly after revocation of Article 370 in 2019.
