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Media resents curbs
All major newspapers of Kashmir on Wednesday decided not to publish dailies after the state government cancelled their staffers’ curfew passes, seized cameras of senior journalists and imposed restrictions on movement on outdoor broadcast (OB) vans used by TV news channels.
All major newspapers of Kashmir on Wednesday decided not to publish dailies after the state government cancelled their staffers’ curfew passes, seized cameras of senior journalists and imposed restrictions on movement on outdoor broadcast (OB) vans used by TV news channels.
“All curfew passes have been cancelled. The army is out and curfew passes are not being entertained,” said Srinagar Deputy Commissioner of Police Mehraj Ahmed Kakroo.
Srinagar’s Press Enclave was sealed in the morning by the security forces and those who ventured out were thrashed by the police.
“Our technical staff is inside the office building. There is little food inside. The staff cannot survive a prolonged curfew,” said Yasir Ahmad, managing director of daily Rising Kashmir. The paper has decided to suspend publication.
The Valley’s leading newspaper, Greater Kashmir, also decided to suspend publication as the staff failed to reach the office to file reports. “I don’t think we will be able to publish the newspaper today. The office is out of bounds for us,” said Javaid Malik, associate editor of the newspaper.
The police also seized the camera of senior journalist Nazir Masoodi of the New Delhi-based news channel NDTV.
The police also stopped OB vans of other Delhi-based channels from beaming reports. On Tuesday, 10 photo-journalists were allegedly beaten up by the security forces when they were covering protests at Batamaloo, where three persons were killed in firing by security forces.
“In the wake of the present turbulence, the government should have ensured free flow of information to keep people updated and to discourage rumour-mongering. However, the opposite has happened. We regret the authorities have done everything to stop mediapersons from discharging their professional duties,” said Kashmir Press Guild president Bashir Ahmad Bashir after presiding over an extraordinary meeting of journalists in Srinagar.
The journalists’ guild also appealed to media bodies within and outside India to voice their concern.
“Arm-twisting tactics have every potential to boomerang,” said Bashir.
