The State Investigation Agency (SIA) of the Jammu & Kashmir Police carried out a major raid at the Kashmir Times office in Jammu today, recovering weapons and ammunition that raised serious concerns about possible anti-national activities. According to police sources, AK‑47 cartridges, pistol rounds, and three grenade levers were found during the search. The raid was conducted by the State Investigation Agency (SIA), which is tasked with probing cases related to security and law-and-order violations.
An FIR has been registered against the newspaper’s Executive Editor, Anuradha Bhasin, who is accused of spreading secessionist views, glorifying anti-national activities, and threatening the sovereignty and territorial integrity of India. Officials said the investigation will examine whether the Kashmir Times was being used to promote anti-national activities and whether there were any links to militant or illegal groups.
The Kashmir Times, founded in 1954 as a weekly and converted into a daily in 1964, has been one of the most prominent newspapers in Jammu and Kashmir. The publication has historically covered sensitive political and social issues in the region, including human rights, governance, and development challenges.
The raid has triggered mixed reactions. Some have criticized the move as a threat to press freedom, questioning whether it was an attempt to intimidate journalists reporting on contentious issues. Others have supported the investigation, saying that any potential security threats must be probed thoroughly.
At this stage, the newspaper has not issued a formal response to the allegations. Authorities have emphasized that the SIA’s action is part of a lawful investigation, and further steps will depend on the outcome of forensic examinations and legal proceedings.
