Kashmiri journalist questioned in Asiya Andrabi case

A Kashmiri journalist was questioned for three consecutive days by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with a case involving Asiya Andrabi in Delhi triggering condemnation from press bodies.

Auqib Javed, a reporter with Kashmir Observer, was summoned to NIA headquarters in Delhi on Saturday and was questioned till Monday before he was let off. He was asked about his interview with Andrabi, who is now in NIA custody in a case of waging war against the country and delivering hate speeches in Kashmir.

Officials said Javed is a witness in the case and they may contact him again if they need more information.

The NIA had arrested Kamran Yousuf, a photo journalist, last September and held him in jail for six months on terror and stone-throwing charges earlier.

In its notice to Javed, the NIA had said, "it appears you are acquainted with the circumstances of the case" which is under investigation by the Superintendent of Police NIA New Delhi under chapter XII code of criminal procedure and he was requested to attend before the NIA for the purpose of his examination relating to the case.

The NIA on Monday also asked Greater Kashmir, which published an interview in January 2018, to provide the unedited version of the interview by Tuesday.

Several media organisations condemned the summons to Auqib. The Committee to Protect Journalists has called on the NIA to respect press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir and stop harassing Javeed.

"Questioning Auqib Javeed without a lawyer and trying to force Greater Kashmir to submit raw reporting material is a serious attack on press freedom in the turbulent state of Jammu and Kashmir," Steven Butler, CPJ's Asia program coordinator in Washington, said.

"These attempts to intimidate journalists will only force the flow of news and information to grind to a halt," he added.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate Indian Journalists Union (IJU) also condemned the harassment of Javeed and demanded that NIA refrain from misusing its authority to intimidate journalists.