Srinagar, Aug 2: The Press Guild of Kashmir has condemned the fresh curbs on media in Kashmir in the wake of curfew restrictions and reminded the government of its commitment made to all the representative bodies of the media groups.
 "With the curfew remaining in vogue in most of the Valley areas, the police and forces are not honouring the curfew passes issued to the media persons by the district magistrate and thus blocking their access to the information,” said Bashir Manzar, General Secretary in a statement issued on Monday.
 "In certain cases during past few days, curfew passes of some media persons have been torn down and even some of them have even been thrashed,” he added.
 "Not only this, the newspaper distribution is being impeded and even police has seized copies of some newspapers including Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Uzma were seized by police. Most of the newspapers couldn’t get published as the staff failed to reach respective offices as their curfew passes were not entertained by police and CRPF.”
 The Press Guild of Kashmir has taken strong note of the anti-media attitude of authorities and condemned the high handedness of police and other armed forces.
 The statement said that Guild has reminded the government the commitment made by Commissioner/Secretary Information, Khursheed Ahmad Ganie, wherein he had assured the representative bodies of the media that government will ensure free movement of media persons and distribution of newspapers.
 The Guild has asked the government to issue clear directions to the forces on the ground that curfew passes are respected and distribution of the newspapers is not hampered failing which Guild would be forced to take direct action, responsibility of which would lie exclusively on the government.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 2 Aug 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 2 Aug 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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