Case against news channel over footage branding two J-K youths as militants

Two innocent youngsters namely Farhan Shafi, a Class 12 student, and Farhat Rashid, a diploma holder, were shown by the instant news channel as militants in place of the killed militant Farhan Wai of Wanigund.

A case was registered against a private news channel for airing photographs of innocent youths of Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, and calling them militants, police said on Wednesday.

Kashmiri people near the Paramilitary Force Central Reserve Police Force building in Lathipora Pulwama, south of Srinagar. (File)

“In reference to ‘V6’ news channel telecast, two innocent youth namely Farhan Shafi, a Class 12 student, and Farhat Rashid, a diploma holder, have been shown by the instant news channel as militants in place of the killed militant Farhan Wai of Wanigund,” a police spokesman said.

An encounter took place between security forces and militants at Larnoo village of Kokernag in Anantnag district on January 9 in which one militant, Farhan Wai of Hizbul Mujahideen, a resident of Wanigund, was killed, he said.

“The news channel ‘V6’ on the same day telecast a news (report) wherein they have shown both the innocent youth (Farhan Shafi and Farhat Rashid) as militants,” the spokesman said.

Police took cognisance of the matter and registered a case in this regard, he said, adding that an investigation was initiated.