Ashok Sodhi

A series of coordinated terrorist attacks that struck more than a dozen locations in the commercial capital, Mumbai, killing more than 170 and wounding hundreds, shocked the world and punctuated a year of growing tension and risk. Witnesses became journalists as they Twittered up to 100 messages a minute, posted photos to Flickr, and transmitted cell-phone video to television networks, all of which provided a hectic yet compelling real-time account of the horrific three-day siege in late November. The instantaneous spread of information on the assault—which hit two lavish hotels, a top restaurant, a rail station, a Jewish center, and a hospital, among other sites—illustrated as much as any recent event the extraordinary revolution in media and communication.

New York, August 25, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns restrictions on the media by security forces trying to quell unrest in the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Central Reserve Police Forces beat at least 10 journalists for reporting on Sunday during a strict curfew imposed indefinitely on major towns in the Kashmir Valley to restrain anti-government protesters, according to international news reports. The journalists were carrying official passes issued by the local government to guarantee them free passage during the curfew, the reports said.

New York, May 12, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists mourned the killing of photojournalist Ashok Sodhi in crossfire Sunday in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Sodhi, a photographer for local English-language Daily Excelsior, was killed when suspected militants exchanged fire with security forces from a house where they held several hostages, in Samba district near the border with Pakistan, according to the BBC. Three militants, one soldier, and three other civilians were killed in the gun battle, which lasted several hours, the BBC reported.

New York, May 12, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists mourned the killing of photojournalist Ashok Sodhi in crossfire Sunday in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Sodhi, a photographer for local English-language Daily Excelsior, was killed when suspected militants exchanged fire with security forces from a house where they held several hostages, in Samba district near the border with Pakistan, according to the BBC. Three militants, one soldier, and three other civilians were killed in the gun battle, which lasted several hours, the BBC reported.