SRINAGAR: No newspapers were published from Srinagar on the fourth consecutive day on Tuesday and the publishers and editors have decided not to come out with their publications on Wednesday also. They have alleged that the PDP-BJP government is not speaking in one voice and not owning up the “press emergency” imposed by it.
The police had on Saturday confiscated the copies of all leading Srinagar newspapers during pre-dawn raids at their press offices in an undeclared information gag which has also shut down the Internet, cellular phone services and Cable TV network partially. Though no formal gag order was issued, the authorities had privately justified the curbs saying these were unavoidable.
On 11th day, Relative calm in J&K
Relative calm prevailed in Kashmir Valley on Tuesday even as curfew continued to be in force in the summer capital and other cities and towns with thousands of police and paramilitary troopers in riot gear out on the streets on the 11th consecutive day.
Police said only a few “stray and intermittent” stone-pelting incidents were reported from Tahab in Pulwama, Sangam Chowk (Bijbehara) in Anantnag, Fatehpora and Ahan in Ganderbal and Bagyas and Recka Chowk (Batamallo) in Srinagar districts.
The Army has regretted the human loss in the firing, saying the troops were “forced” to open fire on the violent crowd at Churhat Qazigund on the peripheries of the highway town.
However, residents have questioned J&K police and the Army on their claim that the protesters had tried to snatch the soldiers’ weapons. Meanwhile, Army Chief General Dalbir Singh will arriving here on Wednesday on a day-long visit of the Valley to review the security situations in the hinterland and along the LoC.
