Cable operators banned yet again in Kashmir

Srinagar, May 29: The Al-Badr militant outfit has imposed a ban on cable operators in the Kashmir valley.

'' You are directed to stop all operations and close down your offices within 24 hours or face consequences,'' a spokesman for the Al-Badr outfit said in a statement to local media organisations here.

He also said the decision to impose a ban on entire cable network was taken after they (cable operators) failed to stop airing obscene channels as directed earlier.

The spokesman claimed the outfit has busted a sex racket and would make it public soon.

He said the outfit will continue the drive against the obscenity in society and will expose the elements behind it.

However, till this afternoon cable network in the valley, including Srinagar city, was operating normally.

On May 10 last year, the cable operators in Kashmir stopped beaming all news and entertainment channels following militant threats despite the state government's assurance of complete protection.

However, the Dukhtaran-e-Millat (Daughters of Faith) blamed the government agencies and those involved in the sex racket for threatening the cable operators and beauty parlours in the Kashmir valley.

But on May 11 operators started airing news and entertainment channels across the valley after the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit termed as 'unnecessary' the ban on cable network in Kashmir.

UNI