New Delhi: In an unprecedented move, an inter-ministerial committee of the I&B ministry has recommended NDTV India be taken off air for a day after it concluded that the broadcaster had revealed “strategically-sensitive” details while covering the terror attack on an IAF base in Pathankot. The committee has recommended that the channel be taken off air on November 9 to 10 and has invoked the powers under the Cable TV Networks (Regulation) Act. The norms for the coverage of terrorist strikes were notified last year by the government.
The committee felt such “crucial information” could have helped terrorists and had the potential to “cause massive harm not only to the national security but also to lives of defence personnel”.
Sources said the channel had revealed potentially sensitive information on the ammunition stockpiled at the airbase, MIGs, rocket-launchers, mortars, helicopters, fuel-tanks etc while anti-terror operations were still going on in January this year.
“The information could have been used by the terrorists or their handlers to cause massive harm to the country,” sources added.
