Pulitzer-winning Kashmiri photojournalist Sana Irshad Mattoo was stopped by immigration officials at the airport on Saturday from going abroad. Mattoo shared on Twitter that she was on her way to Paris to attend a book launch event and attend a photography exhibition when she was stopped by immigration officials at the Delhi airport.
“I was scheduled to travel from Delhi to Paris today for a book launch and photography exhibition as one of the 10 awardees of the Serendipity Arles Grant 2020. Despite getting a French visa, I was stopped at the immigration desk. Delhi Airport” she posted.
“No reason given but told I won’t be able to travel internationally,” tweeted a Pulitzer-winning Kashmiri photojournalist.
Karti Chidambaram, son of former Union minister P Chidambaram, was among those who reacted on social media. “Indiscriminate use of LoC (Lookout Circular). A tool to harass all critics of this regime,” he said. “Whatever happened today was completely unexpected,” she said. PTI, Mattoo alleged that immigration officials did not give any reason to stop her from flying, except that she cannot travel abroad as there are restrictions. Meanwhile, the officials Jammu and Kashmir Police Confirmed Mattu was placed on the no-fly list PTI report good.
Sana Irshad Mattoo was in the feature photography category as part of one of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize winners for coverage of the COVID-19 crisis in India. Reuters crew. Mattoo has been working as an independent photojournalist since 2018, illustrating life in Indian-controlled Kashmir, where insurgents are fighting for Kashmir’s independence or merger with neighboring Pakistan. AP report good.
(with inputs from agencies)