Jammu, July 1: Police sealed the offices and printing press of three newspapers published from here late Thursday.
 Sources said a posse of policemen conducted raids at newspapers, Early Times, Glimpses of Future and Shadow, and sealed the offices and printing press, for allegedly publishing news regarding damage to a temple in South Kashmir.
 However, the management of the newspapers claimed that they were being targeted for publishing stories against the state government.
 The District Magistrate Jammu M K Dwivedi ordered seizure of offices and printing presses of the dailies late last night.
 “Notices have been served to printers and publishers of these newspapers for publication of highly inflammatory material pertaining to a religious place in Anantnag. The publication of material was such that it could cause unrest and communal tension,” he said.
 All Jammu Newspapers Editors Association (AJNEA) and All Small and Medium Newspapers Association (ASMNA) passed a resolution condemning the act and terming it an assault on the freedom of press by the government.

MANAGEMENT MOVES TO COURT
The management of three newspapers has moved to state High Court against the ban imposed on their publication besides sealing of their printing press by the district magistrate Jammu.
 The petitioners have submitted that the order served on the newspapers accuses them of having published series of articles and news items, which were not based on proper facts and has been spreading ill-mistrust and misinformation in Jammu and flaring the sentiments of religious community.
 “Further the order stated that in the publication dated June 30, 2010 a report has been published regarding burning of place of worship, which was not based on facts”, the petition reads.
 The petitioners alleged that they were being victimised for publishing the “stories based on facts about the situation in the state”. They claimed that no shows cause notice has ever been served upon the petitioners and the order was passed without following the principles of natural justice.
 “The orders are arbitrary and an attempt to suppress the voice of the people by curtailing the fundamental rights which is illegal and amount to suppression of fundamental right of speech and expression and right to livelihood”, the petitioners claimed further.
 They added that the government has selectively targeted the petitioners as the same story was also carried by other newspapers also.

Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Sat, 3 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST