By News Agency of Kashmir,
Baramulla : In yet another attack on freedom of press, paramilitary troopers of 176 CRPF and 143BSF allegedly thrashed spokesperson of North Kashmir Journalist Association (NKJA) Reyaz Ahmed, who is associated with Kashmir Images as special correspondent Baramulla and north Kashmir bureau chief of News Agency of Kashmir (NAK), when he was discharging his professional duty.
Reyaz Ahmed was assaulted by CRPF and BSF personnel in the main chowk Baramulla while he was discharging his professional duties.
“I was coming from media center Baramulla as I reached main chowk Baramulla I saw three vehicles belonging to 143Bn of BSF damaged as stone pelting mobs attacked them in old town Baramulla. I was penning down names of injured and registration number of damaged vehicles,” Reyaz Ahmed.
In the meantime, he said, some CRPF personnel challenged me and assaulted me without any reason. “I was beaten to pulp and my laptop was also damaged,” he added.
Meanwhile, journalist fraternity of North Kashmir, Press Club Sopore, and North Kashmir Journalists Association has strongly condemned the attack and took the matter with higher ups of CRPF and BSF.
In a meeting held by NKJA, it was observed that CRPF personnel have been harassing journalists in North Kashmir unnecessarily trying to undermine the freedom of press that wound be tolerated in future.
Repeated attempts to contact Public Relation Officer (PRO) Prabakar Thriapthe based in Srinagar proved futile as his mobile phone’s incoming call was barred.