By Agence India Press,
Srinagar: The unprecedented unrest of past three months has taken a severe toll on media industry of Kashmir. Thrashing of reporters, tearing of their curfew passes by men in uniform has become a norm out here. This is in addition to the tremendous economic loss suffered by newspapers on account of non –publication and virtually no distribution due to severe curfew like restrictions and curtailed advertisements due to unrest.
It is ironical to note that the government has adopted a discriminatory attitude and not only facilitated entry of Delhi based journalists but has put all help, assistance and full government hospitality at their disposal so as to ensure the coverage of the events, as it deems suitable and on contrary scores of local journalists have been thrashed while discharging their professional duties.
The copies of newspapers were offloaded at Banihal and the car carrying newspapers was directed to go back to Jammu. Moreover, the staffs of newspapers are not being allowed to proceed to the office which is severely denting publications of newspapers.
The Kashmir Press Association condemns vociferously this complete gag on local media. It has also been noticed that the curbs imposed on cable TV networks in Kashmir while similar networks in other side of the state are allowed to air whatever they like.
As a matter of fact, various local channels could not telecast evening news bulletins on Sunday as their reporters and cameramen were not allowed to come out and discharge their professional duties.” KPA has also condemned
the ban on Iranian News Channel-“Press TV”.
In other incident of beating media men, CRPF men pounced on Agence India Press Sub-Editor Sheikh Imran Bashir at Molvi Stop, Lal Bazar, KPA condemned it strongly.
The Kashmir Press Association and the enter media fraternity of the Kashmir Valley feels that the situation has completely paralyzed the media in Kashmir, which is unprecedented in last 20 years and if this gag on media continues it would make situation go from bad to worse and force the newspaper owners to suspend their publication.