The owners and editors of newspapers in Kashmir on Tuesday made a decision to not come out with their publications for another day saying that the state government had “resorted to a propaganda blitzkrieg insisting that there was no ban”.
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State government spokesman and Education Minister Nayeem Akhtar had said Friday the ban was aimed at “saving lives and strengthening peace efforts”.
Although many publications have been able to continue online operations, mobile internet services in the region have been shut down by authorities since July 8, making it harder for readers to access current and accurate information, according to the news reports.
“Instead they want the situation to be reported by only the Indian media who look at Kashmir only the prism of “national security” and never question the right of the Indian soldier to be in Kashmir”. 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.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly raised the issue of ban on newspapers in Kashmir, while addressing BJP’s parliamentary meet on Tuesday.
The largest street protests in recent years in India’s portion of Kashmir erupted last week after Indian troops killed the popular young leader of the largest rebel group fighting against Indian rule in the region.
The legal fraternity has condemned the atrocities of Indian armed forces on occupied Kashmir and urged the government to play its due role in pressing the issue at worldwide forums.
People are facing acute shortage of essential items such as medicines due to continued curfew.
The Black Day in support of the citizens of Kashmir is being observed across the world, including in Pakistan. The region is predominantly Muslim and many residents resent the presence of hundreds of thousands of Indian troops.
The two countries have fought three wars – in 1948, 1965 and 1971 – since they were partitioned in 1947, two of which were fought over Kashmir.
A police official said that this was necessitated to maintain law and order as tension gripped the Qazigund area of Anantnag district on the Jammu-Srinagar highway on Monday evening when a mob attacked an army patrol party.
Sources said the government’s decision to lift the ban came too late on Monday for printing the next day’s edition, adding the newspapers editors association would take a final call on publication on Tuesday. State security forces have responded by firing pellet guns, teargas, and live ammunition.
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Mohammad was attending to his relative in the hospital when clashes broke out in Kashmir after the killing of terrorist Burhan Wani.
