Only troopers out in Kashmir.

Kashmir newspapers to resume printing after Mehbooba meets editors

Kashmir calm but paralysed still

Agency Report | Srinagar | 20 July, 2016 | 10:10 PM

Kashmir newspapers are expected to hit the stands on Thursday after the government "apologized" for media curbs and assured Srinagar-based editors that their work won't be hindered by the heightened security in the wake of unrest that has left over 40 people dead and hundreds injured in the Kashmir Valley.

The government had put curbs on the media on Saturday and lifted the ban on Tuesday, saying the decision taken at some “local” level was a “mistake”.

But newspapers refused print runs, alleging that the authorities were putting the onus on them and denying that the government had banned newspaper publications in the valley.

The logjam was resolved in a meeting on Wednesday between Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and editors of Srinagar-based newspapers.

According to an official spokesperson, Mehbooba Mufti urged the media to play “a responsive and proactive role in tiding over the enormous challenges” facing the state and its people.

The Chief Minister told the editors that the government was “committed to independence of media at all costs and complaints of high-handedness against the press, if any, amid prevailing situation will be looked into”.

“Though there has been no deliberate attempt on part of the government to impose any restrictions on the publication of newspapers. However, whatever has happened, because of some communication gap, is regrettable,” Mehbooba Mufti told them, according a statement.

The Chief Minister assured the editors that the government would facilitate “smooth movement of journalists and other newspaper staff to ensure that they can perform their professional duties in a hassle-free manner”.

The editors in a statement said that the Chief Minister “apologized” to them for the decision that was “unintended”.

The editors later decided to resume publication “hoping the resumption will remain unobstructed”.
Meanwhile, one more person, injured earlier in shooting by security forces, died in a hospital here on Wednesday, taking the toll to 45 in the ongoing unrest that has gripped the Kashmir Valley since the July 8 killing of a top militant commander.

Separatist leaders have extended the shutdown call till Monday and called for a march to Anantnag.

Officials at Srinagar’s S.M.H.S. hospital told IANS that Ghulam Mohammad Mir, 51, of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, succumbed to his injuries in the afternoon. He was injured on Saturday when security forces fired at a protesting mob in the frontier district.

Kashmir Valley has been on the boil for nearly two weeks now amid widespread protests, separatist shutdown, and a government-imposed curfew following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani and his two militant aides.

Life across the Valley has been paralysed though no fresh protests were reported since Tuesday.

Key separatist leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Yasin Malik, in a joint media statement on Wednesday, extended the shutdown call till Monday. However, they asked people “to stock whatever they can in a few hours” from Thursday 2 p.m. when shops will be allowed to open.

They also announced a march to Anantnag on Monday.

In view of the separatists asking people to hold protests, authorities have decided not to relax the curfew in the Valley, fearing the separatist-sponsored protests may trigger more violence.

The Kashmir Valley went without newspapers for the fifth day running on Wednesday even as the authorities lifted the alleged media curb a day ago.

However, internet services on all mobile phones remained cut off for the ninth day. Calling facility on mobile phones has also remained suspended during this period except for limited facility on post-paid mobile phones provided by state-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL).

Train services between Baramulla town in the valley and Banihal in Jammu region also remained suspended for the 13th day. (IANS)