Media worst hit in Kashmir due to curfew, 9 injured

Srinagar, Aug 24 (UNI) At least nine mediapersons were injured, after they were allegedly beaten up by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in different parts of the city today.

Several of them have been admitted to hospital, official sources said.

They said Bilal Ahmad Bhat, a correspondent of a private television channel, his cameraman and other employee were allegedly beaten by the CRPF personnel at Rambagh.

The other mediapersons assaulted by the CRPF included Amina War, a photo journalist and Mukhtar Ahmad, correspondent of a local daily.

Sources said only the CRPF personnel have been deployed to strictly enforce the curfew restriction in the city.

The mediapersons alleged that their curfew passes were not honoured by the CRPF who used ''unparliamentary language'' against the local journalists.

A CRPF spokesman, however, said strict instructions have been issued to all field commanders to honour the curfew passes of the mediapersons.

A UNI correspondent, who visited many parts of the city, saw only few police personnel on the streets.

However, adequate number of CRPF personnel were seen deployed on both sides of the otherwise deserted streets.

''Aaj ki surkhiyan'' a popular programme of the Doordarshan and Radio Kashmir, Srinagar, based on news published in the local newspapers, was also affected due to the curfew.

Highlights of only a few newspapers could be broadcast and telecast this morning.

The managers of newspapers said they could not circulate their newspapers in the city and also dispatch to other districts, tehsils and other areas of the valley due to the curfew.

UNI BAS SBC SP HT1112