Srinagar: Authorities in Kashmir have suspended the passports of several journalists and at least one Kashmiri political activist while citing "security threats to India," according to a report by The Wire.
The Regional Passport Office in Srinagar reportedly sent emails to two journalists and a political activist, notifying them that their passports have been suspended under Section 10(3) of The Passports Act, 1967. This section grants the passport authority the power to seize or revoke an Indian citizen’s passport if it is deemed necessary in the interests of India’s sovereignty and integrity, national security, friendly relations with other countries, or the general public.
The recipients of the email were instructed to contact the Srinagar office to address the matter. Failure to do so before the specified date could result in further action against them, the report said.
The passport officer in Srinagar, Devinder Singh, stated that the detentions were carried out based on instructions from intelligence agencies. He refrained from disclosing the exact number of affected individuals but confirmed that some were informed about the suspension.
This development has raised concerns over press freedom and civil liberties in the region, with questions surrounding the reasons behind the passport suspensions and their potential implications on the affected individuals’ mobility and professional activities.
