Newspapers owners and editors said the Kashmir government had yet to guarantee smooth media operations in the prevailing tense situation.
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Last week, the Kashmir government asked newspapers to stop publication for a few days, saying that the ban was a “temporary measure to address an extraordinary situation”.
Shops, business establishments and petrol pumps continued to remain shut, while the Government offices and banks witnessed thin attendance.
While mobile telephony, except BSNL, is suspended across Kashmir for the past eight days, the broadband internet services too have been downed across the Valley.
Pakistan, as a UN-recognised party to the Kashmir dispute, strongly protested against Indian atrocities in the valley, declared Mr Wani a martyr and made a decision to observe a black day on July 19.
As a result of the crackdown, Srinagar-based newspapers couldn’t hit the stands since Saturday when copies of those already printed were seized at midnight and early morning raids by police on their printing presses.
In the latest bout of unrest in the conflicted region, Indian forces reportedly shot dead at least 45 people since July 9 after mass protests broke out following the killing of a popular 22-year-old rebel leader Burhan Wani, in a gunfight with the Indian army on July 8.
Separatist groups have called for protests after prayers this Friday.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said that China hopes the situation in Kashmir will be “handled properly”.
Militants have called on social media for people in Kashmir to attack Indian forces, U.S. intelligence group SITE said on Monday.
Mattoo said the decision was taken at “the local level and heads would soon roll for taking such a harsh decision”.
Violent clashes between rock-throwing Kashmiris and troops firing live ammunition, pellet guns and tear gas have persisted despite a strict curfew in place for an eleventh day Tuesday.
Kashmir has been divided between rivals India and Pakistan since independence in 1947, but both claim the Himalayan territory in full. “Some volunteers came but they did not have the medicines I need”, Noora, 80, who uses one name, said from her doorstep.
Government forces fired bullets at villagers who threw stones at them and tried to torch a police station in a remote village in the northern Kupwara area, close to the highly militarized Line of Control dividing Kashmir between India and Pakistan, a police official said.
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“Indian Muslims will be protected by Hindus, Christians and Sikhs in India”, said Rajnath Singh and added that terrorist outfit Hizbul Mujahideen has its headquarters in Islamabad and Rawalpindi and base camp in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. On Sunday, the Indian Journalists Union said this was “unacceptable in a democracy”.
