Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist denied entry into India
Cathal McNaughton, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, was denied entry into India after he returned from an overseas trip. Officials of Ministry of Home Affairs said McNaughton wasn't allowed to enter India as he ventured into restricted areas of Jammu and Kashmir without permission. McNaughton, who works with Reuters, was awarded the coveted prize in 2018 for his pictures of the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar.
Despite having a valid visa, McNaughton had to return from Delhi airport, IE reports. McNaughton, the Chief Photographer of Reuters in India, was in J&K in April and covered the protests that sparked after a minor was raped and murdered in Kathua. He had also posted pictures of stone pelters in Kashmir and clicked images at the Hazratbal shrine in Srinagar.
About this case, MHA officials claimed McNaughton not only entered restricted areas but also reported from there without any valid permission. "He was not charged with violation of visa rules but was denied entry," said a government official. According to rules, a foreign journalist, a TV presenter or a cameraperson, needs special permission from MHA if he/she wishes to cover sensitive areas like J&K.
Foreign journalists need special permission before reporting from areas like border districts, defense installations, places of strategic importance, national parks, and wildlife sanctuaries. Usually, journalists get a visa for three months, but in rare cases, it can be extended to six months.
Reportedly, the MHA and MEA held discussions to review the protocols of foreign journalists, after McNaughton was denied entry. Earlier, this year the MHA reminded foreign journalists posted in India that they need special permission to enter restricted areas. The list of the areas includes all of Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim and parts of J&K, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Uttarakhand.
