Silencing the Messenger

The NewsClick raids send a very important message of crumbling press freedom in the country

-  Anisha Reddy and Sharmita Kar

IN the wee hours of October 3, 2023, in what will be known as one of the most extensive crackdowns on press freedom in the country in recent times, homes of 46 journalists—all associated with NewsClick—were raided by the Delhi Police’s special cell, which usually probes cases related to terrorism. While some were contributors, the others included those who had less than two years of experience.

The raids come almost seven months after tax officials conducted similar ‘searches’ at the BBC offices in Mumbai and Delhi after the broadcaster aired a documentary in the UK, which was critical of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s role in the 2002 Gujarat riots.

Among those who were questioned were senior journalists Abhisar Sharma, Paranjoy Guha Thakurta, Aunindyo Chakravarty, Urmilesh, Bhasha Singh, popular satirist Sanjay Rajoura and historian Sohail Hashmi. None of them knew what they were being accused of initially. Police personnel, probe agencies and a Union Minister claimed that they need not justify their actions.

Once daylight faded and journalists came out of detention, the police gave a statement that Prabir Purkayastha, the founding editor of NewsClick, and the organisation’s Human Resources (HR) head, Amit Chakravarty, had been arrested under sections of the draconian anti-terror law, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act—UAPA.