Criticisms pour in against action on UNI office
MP Congress media head Mukesh Nayak alleged on Sunday that the action reeked of high-handedness.
The newsroom of United News of India (UNI) did not shut down on Friday; it was stormed, seized, and silenced. In a shocking show of force, hundreds of police personnel barged into the Rafi Marg office, dragging journalists out and treating one of India’s oldest news agencies like a crime scene.
No warning. No discussion. Just force.
Advertisement
Journalists and staff were pushed out within minutes. Many say they were treated like criminals, not media professionals.
Advertisement
In an unprecedented atrocity and attack on freedom of media in India, the Rafi Marg office of the nation’s oldest news agency, United News of India (UNI), was literally attacked by a police force that would put an anti-terror operation to shame. Employees were not given time to… pic.twitter.com/O1H18imaPs
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) March 20, 2026
“Like we were a terrorist organisation”
Sarika Sahni from UNI’s HR department strongly criticised the police action:
“In a very atrocious manner, the Delhi Police today barged into our office in numbers that were so overwhelming as if we are not a media and news agency, but a terrorist organisation. Our staff, including women journalists, were manhandled in a very shameful manner. The staff just wanted some time to vacate the premises, but it all fell on deaf ears as if they had some vendetta against our organisation. We respect the courts and the law of the land, but this kind of police action reeks of motivation and malicious intent.”
In an unprecedented atrocity and attack on freedom of media in India, the Rafi Marg office of the nation’s oldest news agency, United News of India (UNI), was literally attacked by a police force that would put an anti-terror operation to shame. Employees were not given time to… pic.twitter.com/DhxBuoecbu
— The Statesman (@TheStatesmanLtd) March 20, 2026
300 personnel enter, no notice shown
According to staff accounts, around 300 police and paramilitary personnel, along with officials and lawyers, entered the UNI premises at 9 Rafi Marg.
Employees say the team claimed they were acting under a court order. But no written order was shown.
Instead, they were told to leave immediately.
Staff requested time to understand the situation and contact management. That request was ignored.
The sealing of the office of United News of India (UNI), one of the country’s oldest and most respected news agencies, has raised serious concerns over press freedom.
Staff members were forcibly evicted, with several not allowed to retrieve their personal belongings.
— United News of India (@uniindianews) March 20, 2026
“We were thrown out in seconds”
Sabir Haque, UNI’s social media head, described what happened inside.
“The sealing of the office of United News of India (UNI), one of the country’s oldest and most respected news agencies, is a serious concern for press freedom. We were startled to see a large police force enter the newsroom and push us around. They said we needed to leave within seconds. We pleaded, saying we had no idea what was happening and that we would like to see our management and hear from them. However, we later came to know that the top management was barred from entering the premises. Out of the blue, we were roughed up; even women journalists were not spared. Many were thrown to the floor and bundled out. We were frogmarched out of the office even as all our belongings lay scattered here and there. For a long time, we were not even allowed to take our bikes and cars to go home. They threw me out of the office and onto the road.”
“Police forcibly evicted staff and sealed the office”
Manohar Ajeet of UNI Varta gave a detailed account of the incident, calling it an unprecedented moment in India’s media history:
“Police forcibly removed journalists and staff from the UNI headquarters and sealed the premises. In an unexpected development in the history of independent India’s media, the office of the prestigious news agency United News of India was vacated without any prior notice on Friday evening by deploying a large number of Delhi Police and paramilitary personnel. The agency had been operating from 9 Rafi Marg for decades,” he said.
Suddenly, government officials entered the premises along with around 300 police and paramilitary personnel and some lawyers. They began pressuring employees to immediately vacate the newsroom, according to Ajeet.
“They said the action was being taken under a court order, but they did not show any written document. And, they warned that force would be used if employees did not leave,” he added.
When employees requested time and asked to wait for management or to see official notice, some staff, including women employees, were dragged and pushed out of their seats and removed from the newsroom. Abusive language was also used during this process.
“It is difficult to understand why such action was taken without notice and in the absence of senior management,” Ajeet questions.
Due to the sudden shutdown, news services of UNI in English, Hindi, and Urdu stopped immediately, affecting more than 500 subscribers. This has raised serious concerns about the future of the organisation and the livelihoods of hundreds of employees and their families.
Gates sealed, management locked out
As the operation continued, police took full control of the building entrance.
Journalists who were outside on assignments were not allowed to return. Senior management officials were also stopped from entering.
Inside, employees were being removed. Outside, leadership was kept away.
Staff say they were not given even a few minutes to collect their belongings. Laptops, bags, documents and personal items were left inside. Vehicles were also stuck for some time, leaving employees stranded.
Many walked out with nothing.
News services collapse instantly
The sudden sealing of the office stopped UNI’s news flow immediately.
The agency provides services in English, Hindi and Urdu to more than 500 subscribers. All of that came to a halt within minutes.
This has disrupted news distribution across multiple platforms.
The incident has sparked concern across media circles. Why was there no notice? Why was management kept out? Is this a Black Day for India’s press freedom?
Advertisement
