A massive police operation is underway in India, which, since the early hours of the day, has raided the homes of more than forty journalists, illustrators, historians and publishers.

The founder of the online news site NewsClick and the human resources managers Prabir Purkayastha and Amit Chakravarthy have been arrested, accused of accounting irregularities and hidden financing from abroad.

But the UAPA code, which punishes terrorist activities and conspiracy against India, was also invoked against them.

The raids have sparked widespread concern in the world of Indian journalism , with reporters' associations condemning the inspections, calling them "a worrying attempt to gag journalists and an attack on the fundamental right of freedom of the press", as they said in a statement. joint, the National Alliance of Journalists, the Delhi Union of Journalists, the Press Club of India and the Editors Guild of India.

(Unioneonline/D)