Kashmiri Journalist Aquib Javaid Gets Summoned to New Delhi Headquarters by NIA

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has summoned a Kashmir-based journalist, Aquib Javaid Hakeem, in relation to a case registered against the woman separatist leader and Dukhtaran-e-Milat (DeM) chief, Asiya Andrabi. The journalist has been asked to be present at NIA headquarters, New Delhi on July 15, 2018, for examination related to the case. Javaid is an accredited journalist and is currently working as a correspondent with Kashmir Observer.

As per the notice, the journalist is said to be “acquainted with the circumstances of the case”. He has been further asked to be present at NIA headquarters for the “purpose of (his) examination relating to the case.”

The notice read, “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 procedures, you are therefore requested to attend before the undersigned at NIA headquarters on 15th July for the purpose of your examination relating to the case.”

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His office believes that the case against him is regarding resistance leader Asiya Andrabi interview that he conducted in January, this year. Aquib Javaid Hakeem had interviewed separatist leader Asiya Andrabi in January 2018 for Kashmir Ink, which is a weekly supplement of Greater Kashmir. On July 6, Andrabi and two of her associates were arrested by NIA from Central Jail, Srinagar and taken to New Delhi. The NIA, on directions of the Union Home Ministry, had registered a case against Asiya Andrabi, her two associates as well as the organisation Dukhtaran-e-Milat. The organisation was banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, in April this year.

According to the FIR registered against the Asiya Andrabi, “Central government has received information that one Asiya Andrabi and her associates, namely Sofi Fehmeeda and Nahida Nasreen, are actively running a terrorist organisation named as ‘Dukhtaran-E-Millat’ (DEM) which is proscribed under the First Schedule to the UAPA”. Andrabi was accused of waging a war against the country and for delivering hate speeches in Jammu and Kashmir, as per the officials.

Are Journalists constantly intimidated in Kashmir?

Meanwhile, Javaid and his family are in utter shock. According to Javaid, he got a call from the Kothi Bagh police staion. “I got a call from Police station Kothi Bagh. They asked me to meet them. I went to the police station. SHO Kothibagh met me with a man who introduced himself as (an official from) NIA. He told me a summon has been sent on my name. I asked him as to what has happened. They said they details regarding that but asked me to book a ticket to Delhi for tomorrow,” said Javaid to Free Press Kashmir.

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“Now this is happening on daily basis. This is a pure case of intimidation. A journalist can interview anyone. This doesn’t qualify them of any crime. If not a notice, journalists are threatened. Kashmir is a conflict zone and we risk our lives to put across the truth. This is a sad turn out of events,” said a Kashmir-based journalist, on the condition of anonymity.

Aquib Javaid’s is not the first case. Photo journalist Kamran Yousuf was arrested by NIA last year. Yousuf came out on bail in March 2018. Notably, NIA was accused of keeping the photojournalist in “illegal” custody.