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Militants force cable operators to black out MTV, Channel [V]

Mukhtar Ahmad in Srinagar

Watching cable television is taboo once again in the troubled Kashmir valley. In a surprise development, the Harkatul Mujaheedin, a major militant group, has "cracked its whip" on cable operators in Srinagar and other places. Following this, the cable operators may either close down their business or black out some channels in Srinagar.

The militant threat did not come cheap. To show their resolve, they shot at and wounded four cable operators in Srinagar last week. While in some parts of the summer capital cable operators have stopped their service, others may follow suit soon.

"There is no choice. We are discussing the issue and we may either stop our operations or black out some channels," said Mushtaq Ahmad, a cable owner.

In a statement in Srinagar, the Harkatul Mujaheedin said, "The government, through its sustained campaign, was trying to bring about cultural change in Kashmir so as to suppress the quest of Kashmiri youth for Jehad. Kashmiri youth are shown obscene films and songs so as to bring about a cultural change among Muslims. Some of the Kashmiris are running video shops and operating cable networks and thus are inflicting a great loss to the local people".

In a veiled warning the organisation which was earlier named Harkatul Ansar, asked both cable operators and video library owners "not to give precedence to their business over the teachings of Islam". Following the publication of the statement in local dailies in Srinagar, cable operators met several times to discuss the new development, as this was for the first time that any organisation had asked them to "wind up" their business.

Last year too there had been some attacks on cable operators in Srinagar, but no group had claimed responsibility for them.

Following a meeting with the separatist conglomerate All-Party Hurriyat Conference chairman Sayed Ali Shah Geelani, cable operators decided to continue beaming various channels in Kashmir. The APHC chairman had told them that there was no ban on cable television in Kashmir.

Responding to the latest threats, the cable operators, after several days of discussions, issued an appeal to the Harkatul Ansar. The appeal was carried by the local vernacular press prominently.

In their appeal, the cable owners said, "We shall not allow any incursion into our culture and tradition because of our profession. Under extreme conditions of unemployment, we were forced to pool assets and start the trade... Currently over a thousand families depend on the profession for sustenance. It is primarily our endeavour to bring world news to every home in Kashmir."

The cable owners further said, "We should be allowed to carry news and sports and other informative channels... Henceforth we shall not carry any objectionable channel and will ensure that all obscene and degenerative viewing is blacked out."

Sources close to cable operators said they might be forced to black out channels like MTV, Channel [V] and a few others. A police officer said the government may think of providing the operators security in case they approach the officials concerned.

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