On Sunday, a troll campaign targeted various journalists from the valley of Kashmir using hashtag (#WhiteCollarTerrorists) on microblogging site Twitter.
(@MasroorAnsari)
Member of JK @ittihadul, a political org of Jammu & Kashmir founded in 1962 to work for the political, Social & economic welfare of Kashmiris. Influencer of Anti India propaganda. #WindsOfChange#whitecollarterrorist#SolidariTea4kashmir pic.twitter.com/uN18hYps4h— Niharika Mittal (@Niharik48485895) December 5, 2021
Kashmiri photo journalist. An influencer of anti India propagandist. Active in spreading instigating fake news on social media using religious angle.#WindsOfChange#whitecollarterrorist#SolidariTea4Kashmir pic.twitter.com/BvBa0a4gvw
— Pannun Kashmir (@KashmirPannun) December 5, 2021
@QaziShibli https://t.co/uPTp8UdtRn
Please support the givt and #IndianArmyPeoplesArmy #whitecollarterrorist#solidariTea4Kashmir#WindsOfCgange
— Abdul Ali (@Desiali7) December 4, 2021
The attack comes days after the United National Special Rapporteur made their communications with India public, about the repeated intimidation of Kashmiri journalists by government forces. The UN Rapporteur had pointed out to the raids at homes of Qazi Shibli and use of force by the police against Aakash Hassan, while he was traveling in the southern district Anantnag.
Now Public: Communication to #India on multiple alleged acts of intimidation of journalists. Excessive use of force against @AakashHassan & Chandrabhushan Tiwari. Raids on homes of @QaziShibli and his family.https://t.co/EHnd59tTZX
— Mary Lawlor UN Special Rapporteur HRDs (@MaryLawlorhrds) December 3, 2021
The UN Special Rapporteur in its statement had said “We also expressed our deep concern regarding the alleged raids on the home of Mr. Qazi Shibli and his family members. We fear that these raids are a worrying illustration of a pattern of targeted harassment of journalists in Jammu and Kashmir, raising further serious concerns regarding the ability for journalists to exercise their profession free from threats or intimidation.”
On target of the trolls were journalists Qazi Shibli, Fahad Shah, Aakash Hassan, Syed Shahriyar, Gowher Geelani, Safwat Zargar and others.
Majority of the accounts that targeted these journalists were found to have joined the microblogging site in November 2021, itself.
It is pertinent to mention that harassment of journalists in the valley has only been on rise.