First time the Kashmiri journalists were muzzled by the State: Contrary to the common belief that 'Vetasta' (1930) by Prem Nath Bazaz was the first newpaper published from Srinagar, it was Abdul Salam Rafiqui who launched Al-Rafiq in 1896, the first newspaper published, 1/n

in Srinagar printed at Tuhfa Kashmir press owned by Harmukh Prasad. The newspaper highlighted the atrocities of Dogras on Kashmiris; which offended then ruler Partap Singh, who confiscated the press and forced Rafiqui out of state. In year 1901 Partap Singh participated in 2/n

the session of Anglo-Oriental Conference and was shocked to find the exiled journalist seated several rows in front of him.
He pressed heavily upon the British government to persecute him.
Rafiqui spent rest of his life in Rangoon, 3/n

highlighting the plight of Kashmiris at the hands of Dogras and Indians at the hands of British. Hence, the censorship of journalists in Kashmir is as old as the institution of independent journalism itlself in Kashmir. n/n