Srinagar, Sept 7: There seems to be more to the running of ‘dubious television channels’ here than meets the eye.
 While police have identified a channel which recently aired some provocative programmes, it is investigating the “mafia-angle” of the story.
 Informed sources told Greater Kashmir that police had formed a team to ascertain the veracity of both “named and nameless” channels operating on various cable networks across the city.
 On Tuesday, they said, police launched a formal probe into the matter wherein the preliminary investigation revealed that a channel, operating in Soura-Buchpora area, had recently aired the provocative programme which “had the potential to trigger sectarian clashes” across the Valley. “The channel owners accepted that they aired the Compact Disc. We are conducting further investigation into the case. The channels would be sealed once the investigation is completed,” said a senior police official, insisting not to be named.
 Police, the sources said, was likely to question some channel owners, suspected to be running the dubious channels. “We are likely to detain some people in connection with the case. You just can’t rule out the mafia-angle to the story,” they said, adding some vital questions would be asked to the accused so that the true picture was brought before the public.
 The questions include: where from did they get the provocative CD? Who asked them to air it? Do the channels have the registration? Is the cable network authorised to air such channels and programmes? Is anybody funding these channels? Was the programme deliberately aired to trigger sectarian clashes at a time when the Valley is reeling under a crisis of sorts?
 “All these issues would be looked into because per se it seems to be a very sensitive issue,” the police official said.
 Pertinently, the issue came to the light after Greater Kashmir and its sister concern, Kashmir Uzma reported that some dubious channels were operating in the city and trying to trigger sectarian clashes by airing some ‘provocative programmes.’
 The channels have been airing “objectionable stuff” since the onset of the holy month of Ramadhan. Nobody claims ownership of these channels which are running on some cable networks in the summer capital. 
 Interestingly, the channels, which are on air round the clock don’t bear any name, but only keep on airing the religious programs and if the cable network goes off, the channels continue to run distortion free.
 Pertinently, the J&K government has already asked police to seal the dubious channels forthwith. The deputy commissioner, Srinagar, Me’raj Ahmad Kakroo has written a letter to the Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, Ashiq Bukhari, asking him to ensure that no dubious channel operates in the city.

Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Sep 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Tue, 7 Sep 2010 18:30:00 GMT
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