On January 22, 2026, the Press Club of India (PCI) criticised the Jammu and Kashmir Police for orally summoning several journalists without giving specific reasons. The journalists questioned include Srinagar-based reporters from at least three national newspapers. According to PCI, the police interrogated these reporters over routine, fact-based stories using publicly available information. This move is seen as an attempt to stop journalists from doing their jobs freely. PCI highlighted a troubling case where one reporter spent 15 hours over four days at Srinagar’s Cyber Police Station. He was also forced to sign a bond promising not to "disturb the peace," signaling harassment. "Such arbitrary actions create an overall atmosphere of fear, where journalists cannot go about their daily jobs and exercise their constitutional right to work freely," the PCI said. The PCI demanded that J&K officials let journalists work without fear and to follow proper procedures when dealing with them. They warned, "India’s vibrant democracy stands on the shoulders of a free and fearless press; actions like this work to undermine that tradition."