Kashmir Times office raided over 'anti-national activities', AK-47 cartridges found; editors slam action

Police sources said the search operation, which began earlier in the day and was still underway, led to the recovery of AK-47 cartridges, pistol ammunition and three grenade levers from the premises.

An FIR has been filed against the newspaper for allegedly spreading disaffection, promoting secessionist narratives, and undermining the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India and the Union Territory.

Executive Editor Anuradha Bhasin has also been named in the FIR.

Investigators said they are looking into the organisation’s suspected links and activities that may “pose a threat” to India’s sovereignty.

Founded in 1954 by Ved Bhasin, the Kashmir Times is one of Jammu & Kashmir’s oldest and most influential newspapers, initially launched as a weekly before becoming a daily in 1964.

Editors respond to raids

Senior editors Prabodh Jamwal and Anuradha Bhasin issued a joint statement on Thursday, condemning the accusations as an attempt to intimidate and silence the publication.

“We will not be silenced. We are being targeted precisely because we continue to do our work,” they said, arguing that the charges were meant to delegitimise independent journalism at a time when critical voices are increasingly scarce.

The statement came as raids continued at the paper’s Jammu office.

The editors said the searches, along with the allegations of acting “against the state,” were part of a broader effort to suppress the newspaper.

They stressed that holding the government accountable cannot be equated with being anti-national.

“A questioning press is essential to democracy,” they stated. “Investigating corruption and amplifying marginalised voices strengthens our nation, not weakens it.”

Recounting the newspaper’s legacy, they said that since 1954, the Kashmir Times has remained committed to independent journalism, documenting the region’s realities with rigour and giving space to voices that often go unheard.

The editors urged authorities to “stop the harassment, withdraw the baseless charges, and uphold constitutional protections for press freedom.”

They also appealed to media colleagues, civil society and citizens to stand in solidarity, calling the moment a test of journalism’s survival under growing authoritarian pressures.

“Journalism is not a crime. Accountability is not treason,” the statement read, adding: “The state may have the power to raid our offices, but it cannot raid our commitment to the truth.”

The newspaper’s print edition had been suspended in 2021–2022 following what the editors described as sustained targeting, after which the outlet shifted entirely to digital platforms.