TV channels off air in J&K after rebel threat

SRINAGAR: Four leading English-language TV channels have been taken off the air in Jammu and Kashmir after a little-known militant group  accused cable stations of spreading obscenity.

The Al-Madina Regiment warned cable operators they would have to ;face the consequences; if they did not shut down all broadcasts in the Valley, but so far the plug has only been pulled on four channels. 

"A threat was issued by a militant group and we have stopped airing Star Movies, AXN, Reality TV and Star World," Munir Ahmad, a cable TV operator, told Reuters.

The two Star channels are part of Rupert Murdoch''s News Corp. while AXN is owned by Sony. Cable TV provides the main form of entertainment and escape for most Kashmiris weary after years of bloody insurgency. About 40 channels can be seen in the territory, mostly news, films and other entertainment in Hindi and English.

Some channels also show news and music in the Kashmiri language.

Kashmir''s frontline rebel group Hizbul Mujahideen said the threat to cable operators was the handiwork of Indian intelligence agencies. This is just to divert attention from (the) sex scandal, a man claiming to be a Hizbul spokesman told local newspapers.