PCI seeks report on government 'clampdown' on media in Kashmir

NEW DELHI: The Press Council of India (PCI) chairman Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad has ordered registration of a complaint over alleged crackdown on media in the Kashmir Valley and sought a report from the state government on the issue within a week.

His direction came on a complaint by president of Jammu and Kashmir Press Association G H Kaloo on alleged "attack on press" in the restive state.

"The Chairman took into consideration the communications made by Council members expressing their concern about state of affairs in Jammu and Kashmir and prima facie being satisfied sought reports within one week from the Chief Secretary, Secretary (Home) and Director General of Police," the PCI said in a statement.

The Editors Guild of India had yesterday condemned the Jammu and Kashmir government for "unwarranted muzzling" of media in the state and termed as "unfortunate" the attempts "to shoot the messenger".

The newspaper owners in violence-hit Kashmir have decided not to publish newspapers after authorities allegedly raided some media houses and seized their printed copies on Saturday.

Local newspapers in curfew-bound Kashmir failed to hit the stands for the third consecutive day today after the alleged "clampdown" on the media in the aftermath of widespread protests in the Valley following the killing of militant commander Burhan Wani in an encounter with security forces.

No local daily -- English, Urdu or Kashmiri -- was available as the newspaper owners decided not to publish them after the "clampdown" by the government on Friday night.