Media most affected due to curfew, other restriction in Kashmir

Srinagar, Oct 5 (UNI) Media in the Kashmir valley was the worst hit due to indefinite curfew and prevailing situation, in view of the 'Lal Chowk chalo' call for tomorrow, given by the Coordination Committee (CC) spearheading the present agitation.

The District Magistrate (DM), Srinagar in his order last night, stopped the transmission of a local news channel while newspapers could not reach readers today in most parts of the city, districts and far-flung areas due to curfew restrictions.

The restrictions also badly affected the working of national and international news agencies as authorities issued curfew passes to only journalists and photo-journalists.

The DM said the transmission of news channel ''SEN TV'', has been stopped in view of blatant violation of provisions of the Cable TV Network Regulation Act, 1995.

He said the local channel has telecast objectionable material with an objective to incite people to disturb public peace and tranquillity.

Despite repeated advise to conform to the provision of the Act and adhere to the written undertaking given by it, the channel continued to telecast objectionable material aiming at disturbing public peace and order.

He said all the local cable network operators were strictly advised to conform to the provisions of the Act and adhere to their written commitment given to the government at a meeting yesterday.

They were also told that in the event of any violation, the DM would be constrained to take action under the Act.

The authorities had also stopped transmission of almost all news channels after they telecast live Muzaffarabad, Pampore, TRC and Eidgah pro-freedom processionists. However, the local cable operator, in retaliation, stopped transmission of all national and international news channels, forcing authorities to lift restrictions on them.

We had printed our newspapers but could not distribute them because of curfew restrictions, said the newspaper owners.

The managements of majority newspapers have decided not to publish their newspapers tomorrow, in view of the curfew restrictions.

However, authorities had issued passes to local newspapers' staff to function normally.

Only two passes--one for journalist and another to photo journalist--were issued to national and international news agencies and newspapers, affecting their normal functioning badly.

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