BJP Workers Assault Journalist Who Questioned Centre’s Security Lapse in Pahalgam

New Delhi: A senior journalist had to be hospitalised after he was allegedly assaulted while covering a Bharatiya Janata Party protest against the Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district, PTI has reported.

Dainik Jagran reporter Rakesh Sharma allegedly invited the ire of BJP protesters, including party MLAs, when he and other journalists asked them about security lapses which could have led to the attack.

Security in Jammu and Kashmir is in the control of the BJP-led Union government.

PTI reports that a BJP member identified as Himanshu Sharma accused the journalists of speaking a “separatist language” for raising these questions. Also present were BJP legislators Devinder Manyal, Rajiv Jasrotia and Bharat Bhushan.

Manyal was specifically asked whether the Pahalgam terror attack and the movement of militants in Kathua "are not reflective of central government’s failure to check infiltration from across the border," according to PTI.

The journalists allegedly objected to repeated interjections by Himanshu Sharma and decided to boycott the protest. Sharma, along with BJP workers identified by PTI as Ravinder Singh, Ashwani Sharma, Manjit Singh, Tony and Parveen Chuna attacked the journalist Rakesh Sharma, beating him up in full view of protest attendees.

Videos of the assault have been shared on social media.

Daink Jagran Reporter Rakesh sharma assaulted by BJP worker asking if this is also a government and intelligence failure to a BJP leader.

Now he is in hospital . Shame on BJP people.#Pahalgam pic.twitter.com/Yr0u6jCsLP

— Surbhi (@SurrbhiM) April 23, 2025

Sharma told PTI that he was saved by the Deputy Superintendent of Police Ravinder Singh who later admitted him to Government Medical College hospital for treatment.

Journalists called on Kathua Senior Superintendent of Police Shobhit Saxena to ask for a first information report against the accused. Separate journalists also protested held demonstrations at Shaheedi chowk in Kathua and the press club in Jammu.

Reporters also announced that they would be boycotting all BJP programmes till the party takes action against the accused.

A journalist from Kathua worked with @JagranNews Rakesh Sharma said he was thrashed and slapped by BJP workers during a protest at Kalibari Chowk in #Kathua, Now he was admitted at GMC Kathua for treatment on The incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns about press… pic.twitter.com/dLg9Wtx5nl

— Harpreet Singh Sethi (@Harpreetsethi95) April 23, 2025

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