Senior editors of the Kashmir Times, Prabodh Jamwal and Anuradha Bhasin, on Thursday (November 20, 2025) stated that accusations against them are “designed to intimidate, to delegitimise and ultimately to silence.”
“We will not be silenced. We are being targeted precisely because we continue to do our work. In an era when critical voices are increasingly scarce, we remain one of the few independent outlets willing to speak truth to power,” the editors said in a joint statement.
The statement followed ongoing searches of the newspaper’s Jammu office since Thursday morning. Reports indicated that an FIR was filed against the editors, although the J&K Police has not officially commented.
The editors condemned the raids and allegations of activities “inimical to the state” as an attempt to silence their reporting. They stressed that criticizing the government is not “inimical to the state” but is essential for a healthy democracy. “Our work of holding power to account, investigating corruption, and amplifying marginalized voices strengthens our nation. It does not weaken it,” the statement added.
Highlighting the newspaper’s legacy, the editors said, “Since 1954, the Kashmir Times, whose founding editor was Ved Bhasin, has stood as a pillar of independent journalism. We have chronicled the region’s triumphs and failures, given voice to communities that would otherwise go unheard, and asked difficult questions when others remained silent.”
They urged authorities to “immediately cease this harassment, withdraw these unfounded allegations, and respect constitutional guarantees of press freedom.” The editors also called upon media colleagues, civil society, and citizens to support press freedom, warning that “this moment is a test of whether journalism can survive in an environment of increasing authoritarianism.”
“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 state may have the power to raid our offices, but it cannot raid our commitment to the truth,” the statement concluded.
The Kashmir Times had switched to digital platforms after its print edition was suspended in 2021–22 due to relentless targeting.
