Convener News Desk
Bandipora, Nov 27: A journalist from Bandipora has filed a formal complaint with the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bandipora, alleging that he received life threats from the Medical Superintendent (MS) of District Hospital Bandipora and an individual claiming to be an administrative officer, shortly after he reported staff absenteeism at the hospital.
According to the written complaint submitted by journalist Mumtaz Ahmad (alias Suhail Rather), he had visited District Hospital Bandipora on Wednesday afternoon with his seven-month-old baby for an injection. Upon reaching the injection section, he allegedly found that no hospital staff was present, and only interns were attending the patients.
Rather states that he called the Medical Superintendent, Dr. Mukhtar, “politely” to inform him about the absence of staff and to request immediate attention to the matter. Instead of taking action, the complaint alleges, the MS “threatened him with dire consequences,” forcing the journalist to end the call.
The situation escalated minutes later when Rather reportedly received a call, from a person who introduced himself as an administrative officer “from Bandipora administration.”
In the complaint, Rather alleges that the caller said: “Mukhtar Sahib shared your number. I will kill you in a day or two because you are harassing Mukhtar Sahib and doing stories against the hospital.”
The journalist has submitted the recorded phone call as evidence.
Calling the incident “deeply shocking” and a misuse of official authority, Rather has requested the SSP Bandipora to initiate an inquiry, take legal action against those involved, and provide security to him and his family.
Following the complaint, the Bandipora Journalists Association (BJA) issued a statement condemning what it described as “targeted intimidation and death threats” against the journalist.
The association said the threats represent “a severe assault on press freedom and an attempt to stifle public accountability,” particularly when the journalist was accompanying his infant child.
The BJA demanded the immediate suspension of Medical Superintendent Dr. Mukhtar pending investigation, the registration of an FIR for criminal intimidation against both the MS and the caller and a high-level inquiry into administrative lapses at the District Hospital.
The association stated that audio evidence has been submitted to the offices of the Deputy Commissioner and SSP Bandipora.
As of now, there has been no statement from the District Hospital Bandipora or the concerned officials regarding the allegations. Kashmir Convener tried to Call Medical Superintendent Dr Mukhtar Ahmad and asked him to present his side of the story, but after listening the question, he said he is busy and cant talk. Kashmir Convener will update this story as soon as he responds and presents his version.
The journalist community in Bandipora has urged the Lieutenant Governor’s administration and senior police officials to intervene, ensure the safety of the journalist, and safeguard press freedom in Jammu and Kashmir.
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