SRINAGAR: Authorities in Indian-Held Kashmir (IHK) have banned the publication of a local newspaper saying that its contents ‘provoked violence’ in the disputed valley.
The English daily – Kashmir Reader – did not publish for the second straight day on Tuesday, following a government order over the weekend for its owner to halt the publication.
The order – handed down by police officials to the newspaper’s office – said the paper’s contents are ‘of such nature that can easily cause incitement of acts of violence and disturbance of public tranquillity in the state’.
However, the newspaper’s editor – Hilal Mir – said that his paper was not given any prior notice or an opportunity to explain its stand. On Tuesday, another Kashmiri newspaper – Greater Kashmir – said in a front-page editorial that the latest ban shows that the government is willing to ‘take extreme measures’ to muzzle the press.
In July, the government shut down printing presses and temporarily banned newspapers from publishing for three days in a sweeping information blackout after days of anti-India protests.
The officials had said the government action was aimed at saving lives and strengthening peace efforts. Local newspaper editors had denounced that ban.
Kashmir is witnessing its largest protests against Indian rule in recent years – sparked by the July 8 killing of a popular separatist Burhan Wani by Indian soldiers.
More than 80 civilians have been since killed and thousands injured in violence related to the on-going protests – with government forces firing bullets and shotgun pellets at rock-throwing protesters.
