Media gag makes India-controlled Kashmir newspaperless
by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, July 9 (Xinhua) -- F
or the second consecutive day Friday newspapers in India-controlled Kashmir could not hit stands following the gag on media persons here.
The journalists and photographers were prevented from covering incidents and barred from reaching offices.
Around 60 newspapers published from Srinagar city, the summer capital of India-controlled, were unable to publish their daily issues.
The restrictions have also affected the work of correspondents associated with New Delhi-based media houses and international media agencies.
"
This is worst sort of restriction that I have seen in the past twenty years. They cancelled the curfew passes issued to us. In past also they have imposed similar restrictions but we were allowed to discharge the professional duties in limited manner. Today they totally forced us to stay indoors," said Farooq Khan, President Kashmir Press Photographers Association.
Khan said every time government orders a restriction, they have to face the wrath at the hands of police or paramilitary troopers.
Authorities have restricted the movement of journalists in the region in wake of indefinite curfew imposed in the Srinagar on Wednesday, following killing of four people including a women in police and paramilitary action.
Thousands of policemen and India's paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in riot gear have been deployed across the Srinagar city to enforce strict restrictions. These men have laid barricades and concertina on the roads and streets to restrict movement of people. The residents are confined to houses and streets and roads wore a deserted look.
The Indian army which was requisitioned Wednesday by local government to help maintain law and order stage flag march across city's roads intermittently.