Page 11 - English Tehelka Issue 5 - March 15, 2018

here is nothing on the against Yousuf. “Kamran Yousuf had father) who looks after the family,”
Facebook and Instagram hardly taken any video of such activ- Ahmad said. “We were waiting for
accounts of arrested ity and video or image of any such Yousuf to get a regular media job.
photojournalist Kamran activity can rarely been seen in his And he too was working overtime
T Yousuf that would convey laptop or mobile which clearly show to click the best pictures to help him
that he was not a ‘real journalist’, as his intention to only cover the activi- get recognized and find a salaried
claimed by the National Investiga- ties which are anti-national and earn job”. And to do so, Yousuf often threw
tion Agency (NIA). In fact, he has money against such footages”. himself in harm’s way, being among
posted an array of diverse pictures But even if we go by the NIA’s the first to reach the encounter sites.
reflecting various aspects of life in definition of a journalist, Yousuf does He would be around to cover stone
the Kashmir Valley, not only those fit the bill. For he did cover activities pelting protests and militants’ funer-
about the ongoing turmoil that the organised by the government too. als, the stories that are in demand
Central agency has objected to. “He covered blood donation camps about Kashmir more than any gov-
The picture uploaded by him on of the Army and also attended their ernment development activity or an
Facebook on September 3, a day Iftar parties,” his maternal uncle official function which anyway have
before his arrest, captures the sil- Irshad Ahmad told Tehelka. “Be- little news value.
houettes of two peasant women sides, he also covered sports events And then he would put these pic-
walking in a field against a setting organized by the District Police tures on social media to advertise his
work. “May be, this did not go down
Kamran Yousuf is well with the security agencies,” • Terror error ist as “way out of its league”. of Yousuf, saying he was a photog- Yousuf along with Hurriyat lead-
Ahmad said. “Hence, his arrest”.
Now the family doesn’t know
rapher who worked for various
not a terrorist what to do. “If he was with J&K Police, Protesters Agency (NIA) is way out of its league media outlets. “It has been a long ers has generated anxiety about
“India’s National Investigation
the Central investigation agency’s
we would know what to do, whom to
demonstrate
time since Yousuf’s arrest that the
and has no business defining what
broadening remit in the security
meet. But we have no access to NIA,”
against the
Ahmad said.
When asked whether Yousuf arrest of ‘a real journalist’ should cover,” said investigators have probed almost all affairs of the state, enabling it to
photojournalist Steven Butler, CPJ’s Asia programme angles of his supposed involvement. take action even against alleged
was involved in stone throwing as Kamran Yousuf coordinator. “Kamran Yousuf’s work So far, nothing has been proved as stone pelters and those posting
The NIA’s chargesheet against an independent photojournalist the NIA chargesheet states, Ahmad taking photographs of conflict... is the charge sheet suggests,” the stuff on social media. This state of
involved in conflict reportage in the Kashmir Valley is outrageous as said, “Once in 2013 when he was very a public service in the best spirit statement said. “It is high time that affairs has turned the state gov -
ernment into little more than
of journalism. He should be freed
Yousuf is permitted to move out of
young and not a journalist he was ar-
it undermines the professional duties of media persons and is against rested by the police for stone pelting immediately,” Butler said. jail and resume his routine and help a spectator. Unlike in the past,
Constitutional rights, riyaz wani writes but let off the following day. Never The Network of Women in his mother, the only relation he the crackdown against separa-
again. Then he chose journalism as Media in India has asked the NIA has, in surviving honourably. His tist groups is being presided over
his profession and he reported stone not to teach journalism. “Being the release will contribute to the directly from New Delhi.“The raids
sun. Another is about a woman beg- Lines, Pulwama. These photographs pelting rather than participate in it”. Central Counter Terrorism Law strengthening of democracy and have created an uncertain state of
ging outside a prayer ground on Eid were covered by the local media.” The NIA arrested Yousuf for Enforcement Agency, the NIA is right to free speech.” affairs. They are a piece of the
last year. There is one that zeroes in Ahmad, however, said that some alleged stone-pelting and mobilising obviously not aware of the duties In the Valley, the NIA’s arrest of Centre’s policy of an iron-fist -
on a small boy offering Eid prayers such events that his nephew covered support against security personnel of journalists, moral or otherwise. ed approach towards Kashmiri
alongside adults. Another picture were not reported by the media. “But through social media, the charges We would like to inform the NIA leaders and supporters of the
also shows sunset. this was not Yousuf’s fault. His job vehemently denied by the family. His that the basis of credible jour - ongoing Azadi movement. The
However, by the NIA’s standards, was only to take pictures and send mother Rubeena has been the hard- nalism is to ask questions about big question is, whether such
Yousuf wouldn’t qualify as a journal- to newspapers. It is the discretion est hit by her son’s arrest. She has happenings in society and relay The Committee measures help the cause of
ist as the “moral duty of a journalist” of the newspapers to publish them,” been left alone and is apprehensive verified information to the public, to Protect peace in Kashmir?” says Naseer
is to cover the government’s “devel- he said. about his release. Yousuf is her only without fear or favour,” the NWMI Ahmad, a local columnist. “If the
opmental activity”. Yousuf was a freelance photogra- hope. “It is very painful for her to said in a statement. “Reporting Journalists has past is any guide, such meas -
According to the investigative pher, contributing pictures and vid- reconcile to the state of affairs,” said inaugurations of public works by the ures, though unprecedented in
agency, “He (Yousuf) had never cov- eos to local newspapers and some Ahmad. “She is hopelessly waiting government or army is the job of sought immediate their ferocity now, have in the
ered any developmental activity of television channels. He is the only for his return”. government and army PROs. Sure- release of Yousuf past done little to ameliorate
any Government Department/Agen- child of his long divorced mother The family’s hopes have been ly, the prestigious NIA knows the the situation. One can only hope
cy, any inauguration of a hospital, Rubeena Yousuf, a clerk at a private raised by support from media and difference between a journalist and termed NIA’s that New Delhi understands the
school building, road, bridge, state- school drawing a monthly salary of national and international journal- and a PRO?” definition of a futility of the use of force and harsh
ment of political party in power or 5000. Yousuf himself earned a pit- ist organizations. The Committee Similarly, Kashmir Editors Guild, measures to control the situation in
any other social/developmental ac- tance from his work, most of which, to Protect Journalists has sought an organisation of editors of the journalist as “way Kashmir, sooner than later.”
tivity by state government or Govt of Ahmad said, he spent on himself. immediate release of Yousuf and newspapers published in Kashmir out of its league”
India,” the NIA said in its chargesheet “It is my father (Yousuf’s grand- termed NIA’s definition of a journal- has too sought immediate release letters@tehelka.com
tehelka / 15 march 2018 10 www.tehelka.com tehelka / 15 march 2018 11 www.tehelka.com

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