KL Report
SRINAGAR
Scribes operating in North Kashmir Baramulla and Sopore towns Wednesday alleged that Army is ‘forcing’ them to reveal their ‘sources’ and mode of function in their respective places. They alleged that Army has been continuously calling them on their cell numbers directing them to provide all the details including the sources from whom they obtain information about a particular news report.
“I am receiving calls from 22 RR camp located at Pazalpora Sopore and the caller who identifies a top rank Army officer is forcing me to name my ‘sources’ from whom I obtain information. I didn’t oblige simply because I can’t reveal the names of persons who provide me details about any happening,” Sopore based journalist Saleem Qadri who works for an Indian news portal told CNS adding that it is harassment and nothing else.
Another scribe said that it is against the ethics of journalism to reveal the source of information. “I also received a call from the Army and the caller asked me to report at the camp with all the details relating to his job,” he said.
A police official on condition of anonymity said that he fails to understand who has given such instructions to Army. “We don’t know anything about the matter,” he said.
When contacted, Captain Raghav posted at 22 RR Pazalpora camp said that they have received formal instructions from their Sopore Head Quarters to collect all the details about the scribes function in Sopore and other parts of North Kashmir. “We are simply following the instructions of our bosses,” he said.
