People's Democracy

Lift Curbs on Papers in Kashmir Valley: DUJ

THROUGH a statement issued on September 22, the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) has demanded that the undeclared ban on newspapers in Kashmir valley must be ended. It has also urged the Press Council of India to not only take suo moto notice of the assaults on the press there but also visit Srinagar, meet journalists’ bodies there and strive to aid the healing process.
In its executive committee meeting held on September 21 evening, the DUJ expressed grave concern at the reports received that for some time now newspapers have not been published in the Kashmir valley and electronic news bulletins have been banned. Only a token number of curfew passes have been issued to the newspaper offices because of which news reporting and production has been rendered almost impossible. Many reporters and photographers have been physically assaulted by paramilitary forces like the CRPF.

Unequivocally condemning these assaults on the media and media professionals, the DUJ has demanded that the ban and other restrictions imposed on the movement and functioning of media must be lifted immediately.

the special executive meeting further called for restraint in reporting on the conflict situations not only in Kashmir but also on the Ayodhya tangle in view of the judgement that was slated to come on September 24. It specially cautioned against rumour mongering, malicious reports and inspired leaks aimed at dividing the various communities.

Issued by the DUJ president Ms Sujata Madhok and general secretary S K Pande, the statement said that while calling for restrained reporting in volatile situations, there must be “immediate dialogue with affected journalists.” It urged the union home ministry to ensure that the police and CRPF are restrained from arbitrarily roughing up scribes.

According to reports received by the DUJ executive, the police and paramilitary forces recently thrashed and abused some staffers, even though they were carrying valid curfew passes issued by the district magistrate of Srinagar. The state government’s “influence” on the ground level got exposed when the forces tore to pieces the red-colour special curfew passes and even abused those who had issued them.

The DUJ expressed grave concern at the reports that three staffers of Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Uzma were ruthlessly beaten by policemen at Kaka Sarai in the Old City. They were travelling in the office vehicle which was intercepted by the police. The staffers were asked to show their curfew passes and identity cards, which they did. Yet, all of a sudden a policeman started beating a staffer who was admitted to the Bones and Joints Hospital. Other staffers fled from the spot in order to save their lives.