The Press Guild of Kashmir has condemned the fresh curbs on media in Kashmir in the wake of curfew restrictions. The Guild reminded the government of its commitment made to all the representative bodies of the media groups the other day.
With the curfew remaining in place in most of the Valley areas, the police and security forces are not honouring the curfew passes issued to the media persons by the district magistrate and thus blocking their access to the information, it said.
In certain cases during past few days, curfew passes of some mediapersons have been torn down and even some of them have even been thrashed. Not only this, the newspaper distribution is being impeded and even police has seized copies of some newspapers including Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Uzma. Most newspapers could not be published as the staff failed to reach respective offices as their curfew passes were not entertained by police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
The Press Guild of Kashmir on Monday took strong note of the anti-media attitude of authorities and condemned the high-handedness of the police and other security forces. It reminded the government the commitment made by Commissioner/Secretary Information, KA Ganie, wherein he had assured the representative bodies of the media that government will ensure free movement of mediapersons and distribution of newspapers.
The Guild has asked the government to issue clear directions to the forces on the ground that curfew passes are respected and distribution of the newspapers is not hampered failing which Guild would be forced to take direct action, responsibility of which would lie exclusively on the government.
