Media locked down as one more dies in Kashmir violence

Raja Mohidin, the owner of K T Press, that publishes eight Srinagar-based newspapers, said a police team had raided their printing press at 2 am, seized all the newspapers there, taken away the printing plates and arrested eight press employees.

With this the death toll in the violence that followed the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani has mounted to 39 while 3,140 persons including 1,500 security personnel have been injured. Pakistan or any other external party has no standing on Kashmir, he said in a statement.

Cable TV services were suspended for more than 12 hours and newspapers have alleged a media gag.

Violent protests rocked Kashmir last weekend following killing of Burhan Wani and two of his associated in an encounter with security forces on July 8 in Kokernag area of Anantnag district.

Two other persons were injured in a similar incident in Shopian district town, he said. “One is left speechless with the sight of the growing number of injured youth – men and women – as well as the very young and the aged being admitted to various hospitals with fatal eye injuries and bullet injuries above the chest”, they added.

FOR the first time in the Valley, printing presses were raided, printing machines stopped and their staff reportedly detained as the J&K government sought to enforce a complete information blockade.

“The clampdown was necessitated as Pakistani channels that are beamed here through cable television network have launched a campaign aimed at fomenting trouble here, ” said a Jammu and Kashmir government minister who declined to be named.

The decision to impose curfew was taken as there were apprehensions that vested interests might exploit the large gatherings at Friday prayers to instigate fresh violence, an official said.

“Policemen seized the plates of Greater Kashmir and more than 50,000 printed copies of “Kashmir Uzma” (Urdu daily) and closed down the GKC printing press”, a report on the website of Greater Kashmir said.

The only mobile service functional in the valley is Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) and the only internet connectivity is the BSNL broadband service.

Life in the valley remained crippled for the seventh day due to the curfew and separatist-sponsored shutdown. Police also seized copies of another leader English daily Rising Kashmir early this morning and raided its press at Sheikhpora (Budgam).

The separatist groups have extended their shutdown call for until Monday, asking people to come out against civilian killings by security forces.