Crime Today News
By Annunthra Rangan
In today’s world, misinterpretations and misunderstandings are inevitable. However, targeting a specific community and attempting to marginalize them is contrary to the principles of a democratic and secular nation. India, which upholds secularism as a fundamental value, is expected to guarantee press freedom as an essential democratic right. While freedom of the press exists in principle, the reality often presents a stark contrast.
A significant moment in India’s press history was the Emergency declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1975. This 21-month period, from 1975 to 1977, was marked by severe restrictions on civil liberties, including press freedom. Journalists faced intense censorship, with all news requiring approval from the Prime Minister’s Office before publication. While some adapted to these restrictions, many viewed this period as a stifling suppression of free speech. The lifting of the Emergency was met with widespread relief and celebration among journalists.
Fast forward to 2014, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) assuming power, press freedom in India has faced new challenges. Over the years, journalists have encountered increasing censorship, restrictions on reporting, and pressure when covering sensitive issues such as the 2002 Gujarat riots and the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
In December 2019, the Indian Parliament passed the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which was subsequently signed into law by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This legislation expedites citizenship for Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi, and Christian migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, excluding Muslims. Critics argue that this marks the first instance of religion being used as a criterion for Indian citizenship, undermining the nation’s secular foundations. The Modi government, however, defends the law as a measure to protect religious minorities facing persecution in these Muslim-majority countries.
The BJP had also pledged in its 2019 manifesto to implement a nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC), a process originally used in Assam to determine citizenship status. When Assam updated its register in 2019, nearly two million people—both Hindus and Muslims of Bengali origin—were left stateless. Critics fear that a nationwide NRC, combined with the CAA, could disproportionately affect Muslims who may lack documentation and are not eligible for the law’s citizenship provisions.
In parallel, the Modi administration revoked the special constitutional status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019, splitting the Muslim-majority state into two union territories. The government justified this move as necessary for security and development, but it was followed by restrictions on internet access, mass detentions of political leaders, and crackdowns on press freedom. Despite claims of improved security, violence in the region persisted, with both civilian casualties and militant activity continuing. In December 2023, the Supreme Court upheld the revocation, ruling that statehood should be restored before local elections in 2024.
India has witnessed several episodes of communal violence, many of which have exacerbated Hindu-Muslim tensions. The 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya led to riots that resulted in approximately 3,000 deaths, mostly among Muslims. The Supreme Court later allowed the construction of a Hindu temple on the site, which was inaugurated by Modi in early 2024, triggering renewed unrest. The 2002 Gujarat riots, sparked by a train fire that killed Hindu pilgrims, saw large-scale anti-Muslim violence, with allegations that the state government, then led by Modi, failed to prevent the bloodshed. Other notable incidents include the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots, the 2020 Delhi clashes over the CAA, and ongoing attacks by so-called “cow protection” vigilantes, which have disproportionately targeted Muslims.
In recent years, anti-Muslim rhetoric and violence have escalated, with critics accusing BJP leaders of either ignoring or enabling such incidents. Hate speech and misinformation, particularly on social media, have further fueled communal tensions. Despite these challenges, various activists, legal experts, and students—both Hindu and Muslim—have actively opposed these policies, advocating for secularism and constitutional values. Following the passage of the CAA, several state governments refused to implement it, and nearly two thousand academics and professionals condemned the law as unconstitutional. While Hindu nationalism has gained prominence under the BJP, not all Hindus or BJP supporters endorse anti-Muslim sentiment, underscoring the ongoing debate over India’s secular identity.
Many journalists who have exposed critical issues have faced severe repercussions, including legal action, imprisonment under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), and allegations of financial and illegal activities. Some have even lost their lives under suspicious circumstances. Several journalists have been charged with offenses such as money laundering and criminal conspiracy, often viewed as attempts to suppress investigative reporting. Meanwhile, numerous cases involving individuals affiliated with the ruling party, including documented incidents captured on video, have been dismissed without further investigation or legal consequences.
A few cases, for example, are given below:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has been critical of journalist Rana Ayyub due to her outspoken stance on governance, Hindu nationalism, and human rights issues, particularly concerning minorities in India. She gained prominence with her book Gujarat Files: Anatomy of a Cover-Up, an undercover investigation into the 2002 Gujarat riots, which alleged the involvement of top government officials, including then-Chief Minister Narendra Modi. The BJP and its supporters have dismissed her claims as politically motivated and lacking verifiable evidence. Ayyub has consistently criticized BJP-led policies, including the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which she argues discriminate against Muslims, as well as restrictions on press freedom and human rights concerns in Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370. In 2022, she was accused of financial misconduct related to crowdfunding for COVID-19 relief, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) charging her with money laundering—allegations she has denied, calling them politically motivated attempts to suppress her journalism. Ayyub has also been a frequent target of online harassment from right-wing groups and has faced backlash for her critical articles in international media, such as The Washington Post, with BJP leaders accusing her of tarnishing India’s global image. Additionally, she has faced legal challenges, including travel restrictions, which critics view as government intimidation, though authorities maintain they are part of lawful investigations. The BJP’s opposition to Ayyub largely stems from her investigative reporting, vocal criticism of the government, and international engagement on issues of press freedom and human rights.
Not so similar to Rana’s case yet another muslim journalist Siddique Kappan from Kerala, was arrested on October 5, 2020, by the Uttar Pradesh Police while en route to Hathras, where a Dalit woman had died following an alleged gang rape. He was charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), alongside accusations of sedition, conspiracy, and violations of the Information Technology (IT) Act. Authorities alleged that Kappan had ties to the Popular Front of India (PFI), a now-banned organization, and accused him of attempting to incite communal unrest under the pretext of journalism. The Uttar Pradesh government claimed that his visit was part of a “larger conspiracy” to provoke caste-based violence and that he had received foreign funding through PFI to spread propaganda. Kappan, however, maintained that he was simply fulfilling his journalistic duty by reporting on the Hathras case. His arrest triggered widespread condemnation from journalists, human rights organizations, and press freedom advocates, who viewed it as an attack on independent media. After nearly two years in detention, the Supreme Court of India granted him bail on September 9, 2022, citing the lack of substantive evidence to support terrorism-related charges. Despite this, he remained in custody for several months due to a separate case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) before being finally released in February 2023. His case has since been widely cited as an example of the growing concerns surrounding press freedom, pretrial detention, and the alleged misuse of anti-terror laws in India.
Another study would be the Muhammed Zubair case. Zubair, co-founder of the fact-checking website Alt News, was arrested on June 27, 2022, by the Delhi Police on charges of allegedly hurting religious sentiments and promoting enmity. The arrest was based on a 2018 tweet where he had shared a screenshot from a Bollywood movie, which authorities claimed was offensive to Hindu religious beliefs. As the case progressed, multiple FIRs were filed against Zubair across different states, including Uttar Pradesh, for allegedly spreading communal disharmony through his fact-checking work and social media posts. His supporters argued that the charges were politically motivated, as Zubair and Alt News have been vocal in debunking misinformation, particularly those linked to the ruling BJP and right-wing groups. The arrest sparked strong criticism from press freedom organizations, human rights groups, and opposition leaders, who viewed it as an attempt to suppress independent journalism and dissent. After spending nearly a month in custody, Zubair was granted interim bail by the Supreme Court on July 20, 2022, which also ordered the consolidation of multiple cases against him.
Aasif Mujtaba is a Delhi-based Muslim activist and journalist known for his vocal opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which were criticized for allegedly discriminating against Muslims. He has been involved in humanitarian work and grassroots activism, particularly within marginalized communities, and was active in documenting and reporting on the violence during the Delhi riots of February 2020. While he was accused of participating in a protest that turned violent, witness accounts suggest that he was peacefully protesting. During this period, several Muslim activists and journalists, including Mujtaba, faced arrests without evidence due to police crackdowns. After spending several weeks in custody, he was granted bail, but his legal battles continue. Despite ongoing monitoring by authorities, with periodic summons for questioning, Mujtaba remains committed to grassroots activism, focusing on Muslim rights, education, and rehabilitation efforts.
In India, journalists who cover issues related to the Muslim community often face both physical and psychological attacks driven by Islamophobia. These attacks include physical violence, where journalists are targeted by mobs, political groups, or law enforcement for their coverage of sensitive topics such as the CAA, NRC, or communal unrest. Such incidents result in beatings, harassment, and intimidation. Legal harassment is also common, with journalists being slapped with FIRs or sedition charges for reporting on government-critical stories, particularly those focused on Muslim rights or communal issues. In some cases, journalists are accused of spreading misinformation or inciting violence even when they are simply reporting the truth, a tactic used to silence opposition. Moreover, journalists, especially Muslims or those reporting on Muslim issues, face significant online abuse, including threats of violence and efforts to damage their credibility. Right-wing groups often label these journalists as anti-national or biased, particularly when their reports challenge the government’s stance. Intimidation from authorities also adds to the pressure, with some journalists being summoned for questioning or subjected to surveillance, which creates a chilling effect on press freedom. In some cases, journalists are pressured by media organizations or outside entities such as the government or corporations to alter or censor their coverage, especially when addressing controversial issues like the CAA or NRC. Additionally, those who report on Islamophobia or the marginalization of Muslims often experience character assassination, being labeled as “anti-national” or “jihadi sympathizers,” which can damage their reputations and lead to professional isolation.
Journalism, once regarded as an essential pillar of democracy, is increasingly being weaponized to serve political agendas. This shift has led to a climate where leaders, often confined to their ideological frameworks, undermine journalistic integrity by exerting pressure on reporters, discouraging independent inquiry, and, in some cases, compelling them to abandon their profession altogether. The cases highlighted thus far represent only a fraction of the challenges faced by journalists in India. A deeper examination reveals that the curtailment of press freedom has significantly intensified in recent years, particularly following the rise of the current ruling party.
A notable example is the ban on the BBC documentary, which raised critical questions about press freedom. The fact that even an interview featuring the Prime Minister was reportedly restricted from public access raises concerns about the rationale behind such censorship. In a democratic society, there should be no justification for barring journalistic content, particularly when it involves statements made by the nation’s leader.
This pattern reflects a troubling trend in India, where freedom of speech and press is being increasingly stifled, particularly when reporting on issues affecting marginalized communities, including Muslims. Journalists are often reluctant to cover such stories due to the potential repercussions they might face. Journalism is more than just a profession—it is a fundamental institution that holds power to account. While it is recognized as the fourth pillar of democracy, journalists in India continue to struggle for the acknowledgment and protection their work rightfully deserves.
—The writer is a Senior Research Officer at Chennai Centre for China Studies. Her research interests constitute China-WANA (West Asia and North Africa) relations and human rights
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