Newspapers hit stands in Valley after four days

More than 60 publications restarted printing newspapers in Kashmir after four days of protests against alleged curbs on the media by the authorities. HT reports.

More than 60 publications restarted printing newspapers in Kashmir after four days of protests against alleged curbs on the media by the authorities.

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Newspaper-owners, however, on Monday complained about problems in distribution due to continued security restrictions.

It was after four days, for the first time in the history of Kashmir's journalism, that newspapers hit the stands and reached to readers.

The decision to publish newspapers came after the government assured that it will extend curfew passes to staffers and ensure they are accepted by security forces.

"We have restarted publishing newspaper but the issues remain. Curfew passes were not respected in downtown Srinagar when our car carrying newspapers were stopped from entering into downtown Srinagar. There are similar complains in districts too," said Yasir Ahmad, manager of the English daily Rising Kashmir.

Ahmad alleged that the security forces on the ground are "yet to receive the orders or they simply are disobeying the directive".

However, all the workers of the newspaper, like others, have been provided with curfew passes.

A delegation later met the advisor to Abdullah and demanded that the government should stop the harassment of media persons.