India detains acclaimed Kashmiri journalist Hilal Mir

SRINAGAR/RAWALAKOT: In a fresh assault on press freedom in the Indian-occupied Kashmir, Indian authorities arrested prominent Kashmiri journalist Hilal Mir in Srinagar on Tuesday, drawing strong condemnation from journalists and human rights advocates.

Hilal Mir, a senior and internationally recognised journalist, has served as editor of Kashmir Reader, deputy editor at Hindustan Times, and contributor to Greater Kashmir. He is currently affiliated with international media outlets including Anadolu Agency, TRT World, and HuffPost.

Counter Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) announced the journalist’s apprehension in a press release, labelling his as a “radical social media user.”

“In a continued effort, to curb the misuse of social media, for radical activities and to save the Kashmiri youth from becoming the fodder of terrorism by following radical Social Media handles, the Counter Intelligence Kashmir, (CIK) on 6th of May, 2025, detained one Radical Social Media user namely Hilal Mir, resident of Bemina Srinagar, along with digital devices including a mobile phone, laptop etc,” the CIK’s statement reads.

The CIK also accused the veteran journalist of using his X and Facebook accounts to “disseminate extremist / distorted content with an intention to disturb peace and promote disaffection and secessionist ideology and present India in a bad shape.”

Indian authorities also claimed that “a preliminary inspection of the ‘digital devices’ revealed access to the radical account along with incriminating materials and other extremist/distorted/propaganda content.”

They also accused Hilal Mir of having in touch with “some suspected foreign based cell numbers involved in suspicious activities, presumably taking dictation from the adversary for disturbing the peace and tranquility in the valley which is a matter of investigation.”

It is not the first time that Indian authorities have targeted Hilal Mir for his journalistic work. His house in Srinagar was raided in September 2021 due to his independent and unbiased reporting.

Sources in the occupied valley report that Indian authorities have also summoned several other journalists for questioning, suggesting a broader crackdown on independent journalism and dissenting voices in Indian-occupied Kashmir.

Journalists in Azad Jammu and Kashmir have urged the international journalist community to take urgent notice of Hilal Mir’s arrest and Indian crackdown on press freedom in the occupied part of Kashmir. They believe the arrest of a journalist of Mir’s stature is not just the silencing of one voice but is an attack on the conscience of independent journalism itself.