Kashmir cable operators ask terrorists to lift ban

Cable TV operators appealed to terrorist groups to reconsider their ban on beaming of all satellite channels in the Kashmir Valley.

In a rare display of courage, cable TV operators staged a peaceful march on Saturday to appeal to terrorist groups to reconsider their ban on beaming of all satellite channels in the Kashmir Valley.

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As nearly 500 cable operators marched from Iqbal Park in the heart of the city, some of them shouted slogans like "Please lift the ban on cable transmission" and "Don't snatch our livelihood and don't punish us for the evil deeds of others".

Following a threat of suicide attacks by four terrorist groups -- Jaish-e-Mohammed, Al-Badr, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and Al-Madina Regiment -- the cable operators suspended their operations across the valley on Friday.

The threat came in the wake of a sex racket in the city in which several top politicians, police officers and businessmen are allegedly involved.

The terrorist groups said the wide penetration of cable tv was responsible for the moral degradation of Kashmiri society.

Four more terrorist outfits -- Al Nasireen, Al Arifeen, Farzandan-e-Millat and Save Kashmir Movement - on Saturday came out in support of the ban, describing it as a timely step to thwart a "conspiracy" aimed at destroying the social fabric of Jammu and Kashmir.

Cable TV operations across the Kashmir Valley have been intermittently affected since Wednesday, when the Al-Madina Regiment imposed a ban on the airing of satellite channels.