"The reported raids on our office, the baseless accusations of activities 'inimical to the state,' and the coordinated crackdown on the Kashmir Times are yet another attempt to silence us," the statement read.

"Criticising the government is not the same as being inimical to the state. In fact, it is the very opposite. A robust, questioning press is essential to a healthy democracy. Our work of holding power to account, investigating corruption, amplifying marginalised voices strengthens our nation. It does not weaken it," the statement noted.

Since 1954, the Kashmir Times (whose founding editor was Ved Bhasin), has stood as a pillar of independent journalism, it said.

"The accusations leveled against us are designed to intimidate, to delegitimise, and ultimately to silence. We will not be silenced."

"Journalism is not a crime. Accountability is not treason. And we will continue to inform, investigate, and advocate for those who depend on us."

"The state may have the power to raid our offices. But it cannot raid our commitment to the truth," the statement issued by editors, Prabodh Jamwal and Anuradha Bhasin noted.

"Our print edition was suspended in 2021-2022 after relentless targeting, but we continue the operation digitally. All our reporting and writing are publicly available on kashmirtimes.com," the statement further added.

Reacting to the raid, Deputy Chief Minister Surinder Singh Choudhary said action should follow only in cases where wrongdoing is established and not for the sake of pressure.

"If they have done something wrong, then action should be taken. If you do it only to (build) pressure, then that will be wrong", Choudhary told reporters here.

(With inputs from PTI)