Newspapers fail to hit stands in Kashmir for 3rd day

Srinagar, July 18: Local newspapers in curfew-bound Kashmir failed to hit the stands on Monday for the third consecutive day after the government's alleged "clampdown" on the media in the aftermath of widespread protests in the Valley.

No local daily -- English, Urdu or Kashmiri -- was available as the newspaper owners decided not to publish them after the "clampdown" by the government on Friday night.

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday allegedly closed down the offices of at least two printing presses after seizing plates of newspaper and printed copies in Rangreth Industrial Estate in the outskirts of the city here.

Local news agencies also said they have stopped their news bulletins after police allegedly asked them not to issue those. Attempts to seek an official version of the events did not fructify.

Following the police action, a meeting of Kashmir-based newspaper editors, printers and publishers, was held on Saturday at Press Colony in which the issue was discussed. The journalists also held a protest against the alleged "clampdown" and termed it as an "attack on the freedom of press".

A statement of the newspaper editors, printers and publishers of Kashmir issued here said they strongly "condemned" the alleged government action.

It said when they contacted a government spokesperson during the Saturday meeting, he conveyed to them that in view of apprehensions of "serious trouble" in Kashmir Valley in next three days aimed at subverting peace, strict curfew will be imposed and movement of press staff and distribution of newspapers will not be possible.

PTI