Several journalists’ houses were searched by police on Saturday in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) as part of an inquiry into anonymous internet threats made against over a dozen journalists, according to a senior police officer.
Lashkar-e-Taiba and its splinter group, the Resistance Front, have been held responsible by the police for the threats.
On condition of anonymity, because he was not authorised to speak to the media, the official told Reuters that local journalist Sajad Ahmad Kralyari was taken into custody for questioning during the raid and that his laptop, camera, and cellphone were seized.
According to the official, the raids were conducted at the homes of six journalists, including author and writer Gouhar Geelani.
Since their phones were off, Geelani, Kralyari, and the other journalists could not be reached for comment.
In connection with the investigation of the matter involving recent threats to journalists, searches were carried out at 10 locations in Srinagar, Anantnag, and Kulgam, the official stated.
The house of a lawyer who has been representing defendants in cases was also raided.
After anonymous internet threats were made against a dozen journalists in IIOJK, police last week filed a case under anti-terrorism law.
