The way media houses have been affected in J&K

Media in Kashmir has become the casualty in the fight between separatists and the government. For the second time in two months, a majority of newspapers had to suspend their publication due to unprecedented curfew and denial of adequate number of passes.

For the past 19 years, Kashmir press has been muzzled, bruised and throttled by one way or the other. Some mediapersons were killed, some were attacked and some were threatened. But the press always stood its ground and carried out its duties in all odds and difficulties.

This year, however, the situation has changed altogether. The fight between the separatists-led coordination committee and the governor administration has directly affected the media in Kashmir.

A local cable television cameraman was even killed when he was shot by the security forces, while covering the protest demonstration. Several media persons had to taste the wrath of security forces and the mob causing grievous injuries to some of them.

What has however compounded the problem was the imposition of curfew to prevent separatists’ marches. In August, the newspapers failed to hit stands for one week due to the curfew.

In October, the newspapers could not hit the stands for two days when curfew was imposed to foil the Lal Chowk march of separatists. Apart from the curfew, the newspapers offices were closed for two days for Eid. In nutshell the people could read the newspapers for six days only in the first 10 days of this month.

And in these six days, the Eid preparations, separatists-led agitation, elections and cross-LoC trade weighed heavy on the Urdu press of Kashmir.

“Prohibitory orders issued in Srinagar; ban imposed on processions, police launches massive crackdown,” screams the banner headline of the Daily Aftab on October 4.

“Traders from PoK to visit Srinagar on October 12: Kashmiri traders to present the list of items to be traded to the delegation,” reads the headline of the newspaper on September 29.

The newspaper tried to pep up the people who were demoralised after the government managed to foil the separatists bid to lead a march to Lal Chowk on October 6.

“Government foiled the march by imposing the curfew. This has forced many people to rethink. People are very disappointed and disheartened. In this case we should bow before the almighty and seek his blessings and not let the chips down,” comments Aftab on October 8.

Kashmir Uzma commented on BJP’s demand to nationalise Amarnath route, criticising government for allowing Ikhwanis to launch anti people activities. Aftab commented on recent encounter in Delhi and terms them on the pattern of “fake encounter in Kashmir”, elections in the state and CRPF’s role asserting it was tarnishing New Delhi’s image.

Srinagar Times carried editorials on functioning of all governors in J&K, PDP president’s statement about former governor SK Sinha and the important statement of Hizb-ul-Mujhadeen chief Syed Salahuddin about continuous hartal calls by coordination committee.