NBSA mulls norms for terror videos

NEW DELHI: The News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA) has said that it is considering guidelines for news channels to seek the Indian Army’s approval for telecasting material issued by terrorist organisations.

The matter came to light in a NBSA order on a complaint filed by the army against some news channels for telecasting a video in June last year made by a terrorist organisation, which showed Rifleman Aurangzeb being interrogated moments before he was killed.

The army, in its complaint on June 18, said that it had asked the channels not to telecast the footage, but they still did it. It explained that such images propagate terrorist propaganda and affects the ‘dignity’ of the deceased soldier. It added that while it respects the ‘freedom of speech of the media’, it wants the rights of soldiers and their families protected.