SRINAGAR, Sept 24:
The Kashmir Press Club (KPC) has denounced the communication gag in the valley and called for resumption of the services as the clampdown continued for the 51st day today.
Officials said the authorities would take a call at an appropriate time on the resumption of the mobile and Internet services, which remained suspended in most parts of the Valley since last month when the Centre scrapped Jammu and Kashmir’s special status.
In a statement, the KPC reiterated its demand for the Government to immediately lift the communication blockade, which it said would enable the media to function without any hassle in the Valley.
“The KPC is deeply concerned over the prolonged and unprecedented communication shutdown in Kashmir. It has severely hampered work of journalists and media,” it said.
“Journalists are handicapped and unable to get confirmation about ground situation due to this communication blockade. The restrictions are totally unwarranted and unreasonable and aimed at gagging the Kashmir press,” the KPC said.
It added that there had been several reminders from the club to the Government for freeing the communication of newspaper offices, journalists and the club itself.
“But an inordinate delay in restoring the communication confirms the misgiving that the Government does not intend to provide an enabling atmosphere for the media to operate in the Valley,” the statement said.
The KPC had also submitted a list containing the mobile phone numbers of the accredited journalists, editors and the registered members of the KPC to the authorities concerned last Thursday, it said. “But, unfortunately, no action appears to have been taken over it so far.”
Normal life remained affected in Kashmir today as main markets and other business establishments were shut, officials said.
Public transport was off the roads, while private cars were plying unhindered. Few interdistrict cabs and auto-rickshaws were also seen plying in some areas of the city, according to the officials.
There were no restrictions anywhere in the valley, the officials said, adding security forces were deployed in strength in the vulnerable areas of the Valley to maintain law and order.
Landline connectivity is functional across the Valley, but voice calls on mobile devices are working only in Kupwara and Handwara areas of North Kashmir, officials said. There are apprehensions of the mobile and Internet services being misused by “anti-national” elements to fuel violence in the Valley, they added. (PTI)
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