 is now ranked 142 out of a total 180 countries, perhaps as a result of similar arrests as 

, was called for questioning twice after an FIR was filed against a story published in the newspaper. As 

seems to be a threat to the walls of the 

, it also means suffocating those who try to break free. 

Under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act

. Three out of the six are journalists, and the other three are student activists. Furthermore, it is important to highlight that 

, a prominent and famous photojournalist from

, uses her social media profile to produce art out of atrocities acted upon the people of her land. She depicts stories out of words, painted with a melancholic hue of red and tainted with bullet holes. Her 

 in the state, and the occasional scenic photograph of

. Therefore, she has been charged with posting '

 has over the years contributed to several national and international news agencies such as 

The Washington Post, The Sun, Al Jazeera 

. At a time of intense vitriol against the press in

, she was a fearless, sometimes reckless critic of the right-wing, 

. Her paper was a tabloid in every sense, gleefully sensational and indifferent to decorum. But the vehemence and humour of her polemics in defence of pluralism and minority rights had made her a beloved figure to an increasingly embattled opposition. Three years after being shot in September 2017, justice has still not been served. Meanwhile, under the amended 

, an individual can be designated a terrorist and sentenced to jail for up to 7 years.

It is important to recognize the harmful effects of curbing the press. Press and media are known as the fourth pillar of democracy and the fierce measures to suppress media are starting to mould the pillar. Only the news that aligns with the popular and political opinion seems to be allowed. Other journalists and celebrities like 

are being threatened with the same measures.

Consequently, this could mean a complete loss of freedom of reporting for all news houses. Selective reporting has already given an ugly shade of 

 to the global pandemic. This would increase if draconian laws and punishments like so are not checked. The ranking by 

 cited 'police brutality and hate campaigns on social media by 

 followers against journalists' to explain 

government “tightening” its grip on the media, and pressuring it to “toe the 

 nationalist government’s line”. The report also suggests that

 rank is heavily affected by the situation in 

 where it has become “virtually impossible” for journalists to be free.

There has been an alarming rise of those who espouse 

 and their efforts to “purge” anti-national elements from national debates, along with hate campaigns that call for the “

”. There are up to 90 news broadcasts that run 24 hours, but many journalists concede it is getting harder to report freely. Once impartial news houses and journalists have picked a "side" from the popular opinion to unbiased news. Fears of arrest have resulted in self-censorship, or independent journalists leaving news house jobs. While a few cases have hit headlines, many happen quietly. 

s victory means the case for strengthening media protections and autonomy becoming increasingly urgent.

"Pal do pal ke aish ki khaatir kya dena kya jhukna,

Aakhir sab ko hai mar jaana sach hi likhte jaana."

Articles by Eishita

India: Journalism equals Crime?

India: Journalism equals Crime?