Tue Mar 25 16:26:33 UTC 2025: ## Kashmir Press Club Building Seized by J&K Police, Government Promises Relocation

**Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir –** The Kashmir Press Club (KPC) building in Srinagar has been officially handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police, the J&K Assembly confirmed on March 25, 2025. The building, which also housed a gym and library, was initially allotted to the Press Club through verbal instructions from then-Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti but lacked formal documentation.

The government cited a 2023 fire that damaged key police offices as the reason for reclaiming the building, temporarily relocating police personnel to the KPC premises. A government response to a question from PDP legislator Waheed-ur-Rehmaan Parra stated that the building was formally allotted to the J&K Police’s State Investigation Agency (SIA) on September 21, 2023.

The government’s response also noted that the Press Club’s registration was put on hold in January 2022. The KPC, with approximately 300 registered journalists, had been critical of the administration’s handling of press freedom and the arrests of journalists since 2019. This seizure follows the takeover of several other media offices in Srinagar after the revocation of J&K’s special status in 2019.

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, however, reassured the Assembly that the government is committed to providing alternative space for the Press Club and will hold fair elections to reinstate its membership. The government’s actions have raised concerns about press freedom in the region.

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