Srinagar: From being termed a “Sadhbhavana journalist” in the pre-2019 era to being labelled “anti-national” in the post-2019 scenario, the profession and branch of journalism that I chose in 2006 is fast turning into the “most dangerous” branch of journalism in Kashmir, where at every step there are vulnerabilities, continued intimidation, threats and harassment.
I joined as a professional Sports Journalist with Kashmir Observer in June 2006, soon after completing my Bachelor’s degree, having a proper sports background both as a sportsperson and in sports administration through my association with various sports bodies. In November 2006, I joined Greater Kashmir and remained with the organisation until June 2023. During the same period, I also contributed to various organisations such as Goal.com, Tehelka and several others from time to time. In 2015, I launched my own monthly sports magazine and website—Kashmir Sports Watch—along with a dedicated daily news website and social media platforms.
That is it.
Though throughout all these years, from the beginning until the present day, I have faced numerous challenges, hardships and intimidation, the current situation is the worst I have ever experienced. I can now undoubtedly claim that, in the present scenario, Sports Journalism has become the “most dangerous” branch of journalism in Kashmir, where one faces daily threats, intimidation, harassment, interference and constant attempts to dictate what should or should not be reported.
When I started Sports Journalism, my only concern and aim was to promote and strengthen one of the weakest links in journalism in Kashmir. Over the years, being a sportsperson myself, I had witnessed a huge vacuum in journalism where athletes and sportspersons found it difficult to get their voices heard or find space in the media. Since I started Sports Journalism, I tried to make it count by raising issues concerning only sports and sportspersons. Despite receiving numerous opportunities to venture into mainstream journalism, I chose to remain in Sports Journalism and, over the years, carved out a separate space for myself and for sports journalism in Kashmir.
Though I find it extremely difficult to work and discharge my duties as a Sports Journalist today, the journey was never smooth. My stories and my area of work were often termed as “Sadhbhavana journalism” by the pro-separatist lobby, some journalists, friends and even sections of the general public. I was frequently looked down upon and labelled in different ways. Despite carrying stories related to everyone—from the Army and Police to political parties, athletes and sports organisations—I always maintained a professional distance from all of them and never allowed personal relationships to interfere with my work. That is perhaps the reason I survived and was able to discharge my duties in a professional, balanced and unbiased manner.
When hardly anyone was willing to report on sports events organised by the security forces during the peak of the 2008, 2010 and 2016 unrest, I continued to cover sports activities organised by the Army, Police and various Government agencies. For doing so, I faced criticism, harassment and subjugation at the hands of the pro-separatist lobby and even from certain sections of journalists, for whom such reporting was nothing but propaganda.
Despite being labelled in different ways and facing verbal abuse and harassment, I never faced intimidation, threats, police cases or court cases until 2019. During all those years, I unearthed several major scams and highlighted numerous high-profile issues concerning the sports sector, yet I was never subjected to physical intimidation, bans, police action or court proceedings.
That all changed in the post-2019 era.
“I never imagined that writing about sports would eventually lead me to police stations instead of stadiums.”
Since then, I have faced numerous court cases, police calls, bans from entering stadiums, denial of accreditation and, most recently, being lodged in a police lock-up, followed by an FIR and the seizure of my mobile phone.
For what?
For highlighting the concerns of sportspersons and raising my voice for them.
In the post-2019 era, even raising a simple drainage issue at a stadium can get you labelled as “anti-national” by the concerned authorities, which is nothing short of irony.
In 2019, I was called to the Cyber Police Station on a complaint filed by the then CEO of JKCA. Fortunately, the matter did not escalate, as the concerned police officials realised that it was merely a sports-related issue and should never have reached the police in the first place.
Then, in 2021, I shared a video of local residents from Downtown Srinagar highlighting the drainage issue at one of the stadiums. The sole aim was to bring the matter to the notice of the administration so that it could be rectified at the earliest.
Instead, the concerned authorities reached out to my bosses in the organisation where I worked, branding me “anti-national” merely for highlighting a drainage issue. It left both me and my editors shocked and, to some extent, amused at the absurdity of the allegation.
“I chose sports journalism to give athletes a voice—not to become the story myself.”
The threats and intimidation continued from time to time, but here I am mentioning only the major incidents.
I was barred from entering the Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium by the BCCI-backed administrators because I was among the few journalists consistently highlighting the wrongdoings. Despite extensively covering the achievements of JKCA and cricket-related activities over the years, I was singled out for raising genuine issues whenever they arose.
In fact, my BCCI accreditation was denied in 2025 by JKCA despite having covered the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023, the IPL, the FIFA World Cup, the I-League, the ISL and numerous other major sporting events over the years.
In 2023, I was compelled to leave Greater Kashmir after commenting on the performance of a local football club participating in the Second Division I-League. The so-called owners ( obviously non sports background persons) of the club objected to my comment and took up the matter with the Executive Editor. They even made a senior official from the Sports Department speak to him, creating an uncomfortable working environment for me, which ultimately led to my departure after spending more than 17 years with the organisation.
Ironically, my comment was purely performance-based. I had simply pointed out that dropping points against weaker teams would eventually cost the club in its bid to qualify for the I-League. That prediction eventually proved correct. The club missed promotion by just a single point. Their rivals needed only a draw in the final match, while the Kashmir club required a victory. The rivals secured the draw and qualified for the I-League, while the Kashmir club’s dream of reaching the I-League ended there.
In 2024, I was once again called by the Cyber Police over a social media comment related to an inauguration function after a complaint was filed by the Government Sports Department. I was asked to delete the comment and was let off with a warning. Once again, the police acted professionally and courteously, but they too had to act under pressure. The larger issue remains that sports-related matters are increasingly being turned into police matters, something that should never happen, as it unnecessarily diverts the police from their primary responsibilities.
During the same year, JKCA filed a case against Kashmir Sports Watch for conducting a live interview with a former JKCA Joint Secretary. During the interview, the official made certain remarks against JKCA. Kashmir Sports Watch merely provided the platform for the interview and made no allegations or comments of its own. Yet, in the case, the principal party became Kashmir Sports Watch. The matter is presently pending before a court in Srinagar.
Throughout all these years, I faced both major and minor issues, but I chose to deal with them personally. I never highlighted these incidents publicly or on any of the platforms I own. As a professional journalist, I always considered such difficulties to be part of the profession. At the same time, I have never come across a Sports Journalist anywhere in the world facing the kind of sustained difficulties that I have encountered. I know countless Sports Journalists across the globe, and none of them have faced circumstances similar to these.
All these issues and difficulties suddenly appeared very small on June 25, 2026, when I had to face something that perhaps no Sports Journalist anywhere in the world may have ever experienced.
I was picked up by the Police personnel in civil clothes, travelling in a private vehicle. My mobile phone was seized on the spot without any explanation. I was taken to the Police Station without a single word being exchanged or any reason being disclosed to me. I remained lodged in the Police lock-up for nearly seven hours, was later released on a Muchlika, an FIR was registered against me, my personal phone chats were scrutinised and my mobile phone was seized, where it still remains.
That was the horror story of June 25, 2026, for me.
I was picked up as if I were a terrorist or a hardened criminal, in a manner that pointed towards only one thing—intimidation and an attempt to silence and subjugate a voice.
Even the Police officials at the concerned Police Station appeared surprised after discovering that there was nothing on my phone except sports-related material and my professional work. One of them even asked me, “What kind of journalist are you?” I replied, “Only sports… nothing but sports.”
They were simply acting on the orders of their higher-ups after the Sports Department had lodged an official complaint against me, which ultimately turned out to be a defamation complaint.
“Criticism of sports administration should never be mistaken for hostility towards the nation.”
For such a complaint, the Police could not ordinarily have summoned me without the permission of the Magistrate. Yet, instead of following the normal procedure, I was picked up, my phone was seized and I was locked inside the Police lock-up for several hours, in what I believe was a clear case of intimidation.
Later in the evening, the officers at the concerned Police Station behaved with complete courtesy and professionalism. They indirectly conveyed that they were bound by instructions from higher authorities and were acting under pressure. Otherwise, they admitted, there was nothing in the matter that warranted such treatment.
Today, it is July 5, 2026, and my phone is still in Police custody.
Under Indian law, the specific Supreme Court verdicts, what happened with me wasn’t following the law.
” In Foundation for Media Professionals v. Union of India, the Supreme Court observed that personal electronic devices contain private conversations and serve as an “extension of an individual’s self”. The Court directed investigating authorities to strictly isolate personal and professionally privileged materials (such as chats with confidential journalistic sources) so they are not compromised or read during an investigation”.
Protection of Informational Privacy
” The K.S. Puttaswamy v. Union of India (2017), established informational privacy as a Fundamental Right under Article 21 of the Constitution. A police search into your private WhatsApp chats must meet the strict legal test of proportionality, necessity, and legitimate state aim. Because Section 351 and Section 356 BNS generally relate to verbal/physical altercations and defamation, looking through your entire private chat history may completely fail the test of proportionality.”
There are numerous rulings concerning the same but then we live in a place and society where ………
After I came out of the Police Station, I realised that certain Facebook posts of mine concerning Olympic disciplines—posts that were well within the limits of civil discourse and the law—may have unnerved some of the concerned authorities. At no point did I abuse anyone, mention anyone by name in an abusive manner or use any objectionable language. Those posts are still available publicly, although I myself have had no access to my Facebook, WhatsApp or any other applications since June 25 because my phone remains with the Police.
Anyone can read those posts and draw their own conclusions.
Now they are trying to examine even my personal WhatsApp conversations. Even there, they will find nothing except discussions related to sports, and those too are private conversations held in my personal capacity.
Such is the nature of unbiased and professional journalism. One day, someone may be your friend, and the very next day, because of your professional responsibilities, that same person may find himself on the other side of the wall. That is part of journalism. It always has been.
But professional differences should never escalate into Police cases, intimidation, harassment, coercion or prolonged litigation.
Unfortunately, that is the world we live in today.
“Professional journalism survives on accountability, not intimidation.”
Whatever the issue may be, every dispute has a lawful process and every disagreement has a civilised way of being resolved. Dialogue, mutual respect and institutional mechanisms have always existed to address such matters.
Sadly, I have now realised that many of those avenues seem to have disappeared.
Sports Journalism, which I once considered the safest and most constructive branch of journalism, is now steadily turning into the “most dangerous” branch of journalism in Kashmir.
This is my personal opinion, and others may hold a completely different view. But after travelling the journey from being labelled a “Sadhbhavana Journalist” to being branded “Anti-National”—all while simply practising Sports Journalism in Kashmir—I believe I have earned the right to ask this question.
