The Jammu and Kashmir government has sealed the presses of three newspapers in Jammu for 'printing inflammatory material'. The printing presses were sealed on Thursday night and the publications suspended indefinitely on the orders of Jammu Deputy Commissioner MK Dwivedi.
Three newspapers (The Shadow, Early Times and Glimpses of Future) were publishing "inflammatory material," said a notice served on the three English newspapers published from Jammu.
"Notices have been served to printers and publishers of these newspapers for publication of highly inflammatory material pertaining to a religious place in Anantnag. The publication of material was such that it could cause unrest and communal tension," Dwivedi said.
All Jammu Newspapers Editors Association (AJNEA) and All Small and Medium Newspapers Association (ASMNA) passed a resolution condemning the act and terming it an assault on the freedom of press by the government.
The newspapers would be moving the Jammu and Kashmir High Court for a stay on the government action.
“These newspapers resorted to immature journalism and published baseless news item regarding damage to a temple in south Kashmir, which has led to unrest in Jammu region," a official, preferring not to be named told Greater Kashmir.
However, the newspapers claimed that they were being targeted by the government only for publishing stories against the "misdeeds" of the chief minister.
