Srinagar: The phone numbers of some Kashmir-based journalists were reportedly among the 300 verified numbers listed as potential targets for surveillance by Israel-based NSO group's Pegasus spyware. While most of the journalists refused to comment on it, a couple of them expressed their views terming it as "shocking."
Speaking to ETV Bharat, journalist Iftikar Gilani said that he was utterly shocked to know that his phone number was under surveillance. "I did not know that I was so important to the Indian as well as Israeli agencies that they would waste their time, energy and resources tapping my phone," he stated.
While another journalist from the Valley, Aurangzeb Naqshbandi, expressing the same sentiments, said that he could never imagine that such a thing could happen with him. "It is unbelievably shocking. I have pursued journalism in an utmost professional and honest manner throughout my career and will continue to do so in future. This is an uncomfortable and unwanted spotlight on me. However, my endeavour has always been and would always be on my work as a journalist," he added.
According to the report, Muzammil Jaleel, Shabbir Bachh, Iftikhar Gilani and Aurangzeb Naqshbandi are among few Kashmiri journalists whose phones were allegedly put on surveillance.
It is pertinent to mention here that the Pegasus spyware snooping row erupted on Sunday, a day ahead of Parliament's Monsoon Session, after it emerged that around 50,000 phone numbers, including around 300 belonging to Indians, were part of a database leak and linked to Israeli company NSO Group. These phone numbers were either put under surveillance or were potential targets of snooping.
Also Read: Media reports on Pegasus of no substance: IT Minister
