CPI sends show cause notice to Caravan over article on ‘torture of civilians’ by army in Poonch

Months after the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting ordered The caravan magazine to withdraw its article on “torture and killing of civilians” by the Indian Army in Jammu’s Poonch and Rajaouri, the Press Council of India has issued a show-cause notice to the media outlet.

The news organization’s notice follows the broadcast ministry’s complaint against the report, calling it “misleading” and “biased.” The PCI requested The caravan to submit clarifications on his report and said the matter would be referred to the Press Council Commission of Inquiry to take necessary action.

The in-depth study titled ‘Cries from the Army Post’, authored by Jatinder Kaur Tur, details allegations of torture carried out by the Rashtriya Rifles in two districts of Rajouri and Poonch. “On December 22, 25 men were arrested from several villages in Rajouri and Poonch districts and taken to three different military posts, where they were severely tortured. Three of them are dead,” part of the article reads. The victims belonged to the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities that the BJP is trying to woo, it is said.

The broadcast ministry’s opaque takedown order, under Section 69A of the Information Technology Act, was issued on February 12, saying the magazine’s website would be blocked if the order was not followed. On March 1st, The caravan filed an appeal against the order in the Delhi High Court, claiming that it was a violation of freedom of the press and the fundamental right to freedom of expression. Shortly thereafter, the department filed a complaint with the PCI, even though the case had already been withdrawn.

The caravan said the department’s complaint is “unsupported by facts and lacks a basic understanding of journalistic procedures.” He said the PCI’s show cause notice constitutes a betrayal of its own mandate to protect press freedom.

The magazine further said it “fully supports the story”, which was “built on meticulous reporting” and had undergone “the rigor of our editorial and fact-checking processes, is supported by evidence and followed high standards of journalism. the ethics to which our organization subscribes.

Laundry had already reported how the first opinion against The caravan highlighted the “absurd confidentiality” of the withdrawal orders.

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