Scores injured during Pro-freedom rallies; Admin directs Cable TV operators to block news channels
- 10 injured after forces try to foil pro-freedom rallies in south Kashmir
- Hundreds participate in pro-freedom march in Bandipora
- Tension prevails across valley, Lal Chowk sealed
- No curfew anywhere: Police
- Govt directs Cable TV operators to block news channels – (KBC, Gulistan TV, Munsiff TV, JK Channel and Insaaf TV).
At least ten people were injured after forces fired pellets and used teargas shells to foil protests and pro-freedom rallies in Anantnag and Kulgam districts in south Kashmir on Thursday.
Reports and witnesses said that eight people were injured after forces tries to foil a pro-freedom-cum-unity rally in Badasgam village in Kokernag area of Anantnag district.
Two people were injured after forces fired pellets and teargas shells in Fura village of Kulgam district to foil a rally.
“They (forces) vandalized the venue and even threw away food which was cooked for the participants from different villages,” said an organizer.
Meanwhile, huge rallies are being held in Shamsipora village of Anantnag, Trenz village of Shopian district and Pakherpora area of Pulwama district.
A peaceful protest march was taken out in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Thursday.
Hundreds of people participated in the march that began from Gulshan Chowk in the main town.
A day after a teenager was killed in clashes tension prevailed in Kashmir with authorities Thursday sealing roads leading to the Lal Chowk city centre in view of separatists’ call to lock down public broadcasting services. Although the entire Kashmir Valley was curfew-free, security forces have imposed restrictions on movement of people at many places in old city.
Security forces have been deployed in strength around the premises of Doordarshan, Radio Kashmir and the state’s Information Department in the wake of the separatists asking people to block all roads near these institutions. The roads leading to them and Lal Chowk have been sealed by placing concertina wires at important intersections.
“There is no curfew anywhere in Kashmir today. The heavy deployment of security forces at some places is to maintain law and order,” a police official said. He, however, said restrictions on the assembly of people under Section 144 CrPC were in place across the Valley. A teenager was killed yesterday and over 100 others hurt in security forces action against violent protesters in Ladoora area of Sopore in north Kashmir Baramulla district, taking the death toll in the ongoing unrest in the Valley to 72.
Meanwhile, normal life remained affected due to the separatist sponsored strike on 55th day as educational institutions and private offices were closed while public transport continued to be off the roads.
The separatists, who are spearheading the ongoing agitation for right to self determination in Jammu and Kashmir, have extended the shutdown programme till September 8.
Meanwhile, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have asked the cable TV operators from Kashmir to stop broadcasting five news channels in Kashmir Valley.
District Magistrate Srinagar in this regard has sent notices (vide order number Lgl/144-CrPC/4859-60) through SSP Srinagar to SEN Digital Network, JK Media Network Service and Take One Media asking them to block the news channels like KBC, Gulistan TV, Munsiff TV, JK Channel and Insaaf TV.
The order, a copy of which lies with news agency CNS, reads: “Whereas Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar has informed that Cable Operators operating in District Srinagar are transmitting various programmes which has created law and order problem in the Valley in general and Srinagar in particular as these cable operators transmit programmes which promote hatred, ill-will, disharmony and a feeling of enmity against the sovereignty of State.
“Besides some of the channels transmitted by the cable operators, viz: KBC, Gulistan TV, Munsiff TV, JK Channel and Insaaf TV have started to telecast programmes which have potential of causing mental and physical harm to particular functionaries of Government. Besides, these programmes have caused feeling of prejudice to the maintenance of harmony and public peace.”
The order further reads that, “whereas, Cable Television Network (Regulation Act, 1995) provides a mechanism to regulate the operation of television network and in order to prevent the breech of peace and to stop incitement and instigation of the public to cause mental and physical threat to particular functionaries of the Government.”
“You are directed to stop telecasting/transmitting of the programmes of these channels failing which action as contemplated under the provisions of Cable Television Networks (Regulation Act, 1995) will be taken against you.”
Expressing anguish over the government order, the operators of these channels told CNS that government should at least make a distinction between a cable and a satellite channel.
“These are all satellite channels which are being aired from outside the state of Jammu and Kashmir,” they said and added that Cable Act doesn’t apply to these channels.
They further said that the move to bar these channels had “dented the claims” about the improving situation in the Valley.
Pertinently, the channels in question broadcast exclusive news bulletins on Kashmir affairs in the evening.
“There is no curfew in any part of the valley,” a police official told Kashmir Post on Thursday.
He was reacting to an earlier news report where in it was reported that curfew was in place in the areas falling under Nowhatta and MR Gunj police stations of Srinagar and Baramulla.
