News channels off air, publication of newspapers affected in Kashmir
Srinagar, Feb 12 : News channels on local cable service remained off air for the fourth day today in the Kashmir valley in the wake of curfew restrictions imposed following the execution of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru in Delhi on February 9.
The restrictions have also hit the publication and circulation
of newspapers besides mobile and internet services.
All national and regional news channels on local cable have been suspended since February 9, in places including summer capital Srinagar, after the imposition of the curfew.
However, people were watching national news channels through
dish. The entertainment, sports and movie channels were functioning
normally.
Jammu and Kashmir Press Association president Ghulam Hassan Kaloo said the government has stopped publication of local newspapers thus depriving people of the valley to know about the prevailing situation.
He said none of the newspapers could be published because of the government restrictions.
However, though internet editions of the newspaper were available, people could not go through the newspapers as the internet facilities were also snapped.
Some of the newspapers, in their internet editions, informed
that in view of the curfew in the valley, the publication of newspapers was impossible. Hence, there was no print edition of
the newspaper.
The government has already banned telecast of news or
political discussion on local cable channels in the valley since
2010.
The Short Message Service (SMS) has also been banned in
the valley for prepaid mobile numbers since 2010, when Kashmir witnessed massive protests in which more than 120 people were killed allegedly in security force and police firing.
None of the more than 60 Urdu and English newspapers could be published today as some of the newspapers published on February 10 were allegedly seized by the police.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah has appealed to media to verify
facts before telecasting or printing any news about the situation
in Kashmir.
He said in 2010 news reports were filed based on rumours
affecting the normal situation.
''Once you circulate any news report not based on facts, it
will be difficult for us to correct it,'' he said and urged media
persons to re-verify facts before circulating reports.