Mainstream political leaders Monday strongly condemned threat calls made to the staff of Jammu bureau of Greater Kashmir a day earlier, calling it a direct attack on the freedom of press while demanding a through probe into the incident.
The Jammubureau of Greater Kashmir Sunday received several calls from an unidentifiedcaller who threatened to shoot down the entire staff of the publication. Thecaller, who did not divulge his name, called from cell number 06206370152, andabused the staff on the office landline. The caller said he would barge intothe offices of the publication, both in Jammu as well as Srinagar, and shootdown the entire staff.
FormerJammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference vice-president OmarAbdullah Monday hoped that Jammu and Kashmir police would conduct a swiftinvestigation into the threatening phone call made to Greater Kashmiryesterday.
“I hope@JmuKmrPolice conduct a swift investigation into the threats issued to thepeople working with @GreaterKashmir in Jammu. A free press is the cornerstoneof democracy and any threat is unacceptable. @JKNC_condemns this attempt tobrowbeat media professionals (sic),” Omar said in a tweet.
PeoplesConference president SajadGani Lone said he stood by Greater Kashmir whosestaff has been threatened.
Reacting tothe threats received by the Jammu bureau chief of the daily, Lone tweeted:”Highly regrettable that Greater Kashmir staff in Jammu has been threatened. Wefully support press freedom and condemn the thugs who made the threats. Ourfull support to GK”.
BJP’scandidate for Srinagar seat in the upcoming LokSabha elections Khalid Jehangirasked the home minister Rajnath Singh to take strict action over the issue ofthreat calls made to the Greater Kashmir staff.
“Requesting@HMOIndia to take strict action against criminals who made threats calls to themost prominent newspaper of our state @GreaterKashmir. We stand in solidaritywith @GreaterKashmir,” Jehangir tweeted.
J&KCongress party president Ghulam Ahmad Mir strongly condemned threat calls toGreater Kashmir staff, and urged the government to conduct immediate probe toascertain the identity of the culprits.
In a statement,Mir expressed serious concern over the threat calls to Greater Kashmir Jammuoffice and sought immediate action against the culprits.
CPI (M)state secretary GhulamNabi Malik condemned threat calls to Greater Kashmirstaff. He demanded that the identity of the culprits should be ascertained sothat they are booked under law.
Malik urgedupon the administration to ensure protection to the journalist fraternity.
He alsoexpressed solidarity with the Greater Kashmir staff.
KashmirEconomic Alliance and Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation condemnedthreats to Greater Kashmir, terming the matter a “well thought out policy tosilence media in Kashmir which is upholding the truth”.
KEAchairman Muhammad Yaseen Khan said the government must take action againstthose who have threatened GK staffers.
“GK is anasset for people of J&K, harming it is harming the interests of people ofthe state,” Khan said, adding that the police should take action “against theelements behind this conspiracy”.
Khan, whois also president of KTMF, said that “business community of Kashmir is behindthe GK which is our own institution and is giving voice to Kashmiris”.
The tradebodies also urged the governor Satya Pal Malik and director general of policeDilbag Singh to “personally take cognisance of these threat messages and bookthe culprits immediately”.
Civilsociety members from Jammu and twitter users condemned threat calls made to thestaff of Greater Kashmir, Jammu bureau, and urged the government to conduct immediateprobe to ascertain the identity of the culprit.
In astatement, commodore KrishanDevSethi, a veteran communist leader, condemnedthreat calls to staff of Greater Kashmir.
“I condemnattack on free media with strongest words,” he said, adding: “Journalists ofconflict-hit Jammu and Kashmir work under tremendous stress. These threats andattacks are motivated to affect their working efficiency (sic).”
He alsourged the police authorities to take strict action and book the culprits underrelevant section of the law.
Press clubof Jammu called for sufficient security at the Greater Kashmir office.
“Aftermurder of ShujaatBukhari last year, things should not be taken lightly. Policeshould immediately provide protection at office of GK-Jammu and constitute aspecial investigation team to find out the culprit,” said Ashwani Kumar,president of press club of Jammu.
He said thestate government should pass Maharashtra-type journalist protection Act forjournalists of Jammu and Kashmir.
Press Clubof Kathua asked the state administration to take the matter seriously andidentify the culprit.
Journalistassociations from Rajouri and Poonch have called for a probe into the threatcalls made to Greater Kashmir Jammu bureau office.
In a pressstatement, Press club Rajouri headed by president AvinashJasyal said thatthreatening calls made to GK Jammu bureau office is a serious issue and “anattempt of assault on the fourth pillar of democracy”.
“We demandthat Jammu and Kashmir government should probe the case on merits and accusedbe put behind bars at the earliest (sic),” AvinashJasyal, president of PressClub Rajouri said.
Districtjournalist association Poonch through its general secretary Ishrat Buttdemanded that the case (of threat calls to GK) be probed.
“Threateningcalls made to GK Jammu office is a serious issue and attempt being made tocrush the voice of journalism and authorities should be serious about thisissue,” he said.