Allow us to air news, other channels, cable operators to militants

Srinagar, May 13 (UNI) The cable operators and their workers today took to streets demanding lifting of ban on airing the news and entertainment channels in Kashmir.

The channels went off air in the entire Kashmir valley after four militant organisations warned of ''fidayeen (suicide)'' attacks on the cable operators for resuming the services.

'' We want justice '', do not deny the people of Kashmir the right to information which get they through cable networks,'' were the messages on the placards held up by the cable operators during their march through different streets in the city.

The cable operators said that they should not be punished for the evil deeds of others, and urged lifting of the ban on airing the news and other channels.

Four militant outfit-- Al Madina Regiment, Al Badr Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen-- banned the airing of channels saying that the Kashmir youths were ''going astray'' because of them.

A called who identified himself spokesman of these outfits warned the cable operators of ''fidayeen attacks'' in case they resume operations on their own or at the behest of the state government.

Last week, immediately after the sex racket allegedly involving politicians, senior security and police officials and businessmen, was exposed, a militant outfit Al-Madina warned cable operators to close down their operations within then days.

A spokesman of the outfit alleged that cable operators were airing obscene programmes and asked them to close down their operations in ten days time.

UNI BAS VD HT1632