The raids conducted at the homes of journalists associated with the NewsClick website this morning were meticulously planned and coordinated by the Delhi Police, according to sources. The case against NewsClick, filed under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, was initiated on August 17, following allegations of funding from a network promoting Chinese propaganda. The Delhi Police Special Cell held a meeting yesterday to discuss the course of action, and a list of journalists to be raided was prepared. Over 500 police personnel were involved in conducting raids at more than 100 locations in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, and Mumbai. While no arrests have been made so far, several senior journalists were taken to the Special Cell offices for questioning, and their electronic devices were seized for further investigation. Additionally, a list of devices and IMEI numbers, as well as a list of questions related to farmer protests and protests in Shaheen Bagh, were carried out during the raids. The charges against NewsClick and the journalists involved include criminal conspiracy, promoting enmity between different groups, terrorist activities, and raising funds for terrorist activities. Press organizations, including the Editors Guild of India and the Press Club of India, have expressed concerns over the crackdown and called for respect of due process and press freedom. Union Minister Anurag Thakur defended the action, stating that if anyone has committed wrongdoing, security agencies have the right to investigate. Opposition parties have criticized the government for the raids and expressed solidarity with the media, highlighting India’s low ranking in the World Press Freedom index.
Sun. Oct 13th, 2024
