The Mufti government officially banned the publication of several English and Urdu dailies.
Strife-torn Kashmir woke up to the newspaper-less morning on Sunday after Mehbooba Mufti government officially banned the publication of several English and Urdu dailies in a bid to enforce the information blockade.
On Saturday the government spokesman had conveyed to the Kashmir-based Newspaper Editors/Owners that the strict curfew will be imposed and movement of newspapers staff and distribution of newspapers will not be possible.
Newspaper owners suspended their publication and no major newspaper could hit the stands on Sunday. Digital edition of the newspapers, however, were available on their websites but due to the mobile internet blockade, the traffic was very low.
Newspapers registered their protests in online edition with black strips and black pages symbolising the muzzling of freedom of the press. Front page of the Rising Kashmir’s e-paper was painted black with a small sketch showing the broken pen. Another popular newspaper Kashmir reader ran a front page with black border to protest the gag order of the government.
“The newspaper editors apologised to the readers for the breakdown of the newspaper publications which is beyond their control. The editors assured the readers that as soon as the government lifts the press emergency we will resume our publications”, said Masood Hussain, editor in chief of Kashmir Life, after the emergency meeting of Kashmir based Newspaper Editors/Owners.
Under fire for imposing press emergency, the People's Democratic Party called upon the media to help them to restore peace in the valley. “We respect the media and request them to help us in restoring peace in Kashmir. We need your support the larger good of people”, tweeted PDP.
Strictest curfew remained imposed in all the 10 districts of the valley to prevent any escalation in the protests and street violence. Over 3200 people including 1500 security personnel have been injured in the street violence in the last one week.
Mobile internet continued to remain suspended. Only BSNL fixed line broadband services are operational in the valley.
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