Indian authorities raided the homes of 46 journalists and activists early Tuesday and made two arrests, raising serious concerns in a country that has plummeted in rankings assessing the state of freedom of expression and freedom of expression. press.
The journalists targeted include employees of the English-language news site NewsClick. Indian authorities filed a complaint in 2021, alleging that the media outlet received funds from abroad.
In August, the New York Times had reported that NewsClick was financed by American millionaire Neville Roy Singham, who “punctuated its coverage with views of the Chinese government”, an assertion which the person concerned denied.
Police said they questioned 37 men and 9 women, and seized computer equipment and documents. Two journalists, Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarty, “were arrested”, while “procedures are still ongoing”, the police said.
Prabir Purkayastha is the editor-in-chief of NewsClick, and Amit Chakravarty heads the human resources department.
The operation, police added, was carried out under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act, a strict anti-terrorism law that makes it virtually impossible to obtain bail.
Aritry Das, a NewsClick journalist, said police stormed her home around 6 a.m. and questioned her about her reporting.
“The Delhi Police came to my house. She took my laptop, my phone, my hard drives,” she wrote on X (ex-Twitter).
“Intimidation and repression”
The searches, carried out in the capital, New Delhi, and in Bombay, also targeted the homes of journalists Aunindyo Chakravarty, Bhasha Singh and Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, comedian Sanjay Rajoura and activist Teesta Setalvad, according to the local press.
Historian and activist Sohail Hashmi, who was also raided on Tuesday, had to hand over his laptop, phone and hard drives containing more than a decade of his writings to authorities.
“According to the warrant, which they reluctantly showed me, the raid on my home was linked to an investigation into NewsClick,” Mr. Hashmi told Agence France-Presse, saying he was acts as a “combination of intimidation and repression of freedom of the press and freedom of expression”.
Another journalist, Abhisar Sharma, claimed on social networks Tuesday evening that he had undergone “a day of interrogation” by the police. “I will continue to question people in power and especially those who are afraid of simple questions,” he wrote.
Asked about the operation by journalists, India’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting said: “I don’t need to justify myself. »
“If someone has committed wrongdoing, agencies are free to investigate,” he continued, as quoted by NDTV.
“Harassment campaign”
In a statement, the Bombay Press Club expressed its “deep concern”.
He asked the police to stop “what is seen as a targeted campaign of harassment against these journalists”.
The organization of media professionals, the Network of Women in Media, deemed these searches targeting “prominent dissident voices” “shocking”.
When Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government took office in 2014, India was ranked 140e ranked out of 180 countries in the world press freedom rankings established by Reporters Without Borders. In 2023, the country ranks 161e rank. It has therefore lost 21 places in nine years, including 11 since last year.
Journalists critical of the government say they face increased harassment, including on social media — where Mr. Modi’s ruling party is very active.
By scrutinizing finances and limiting foreign funding for rights defenders, Mr. Modi’s government is putting pressure on their activities, they say.