'Ban' on newpapers clears way for official media in Kashmir

There is no news available in Kashmir other than in the official media, following a militant ‘ban’ on all dailies in the valley

This isn’t the first time that newspapers have gone off the stands here, leaving the common man to depend on the officially controlled radio and television, both of which are deeply distrusted.

Editors claim they are the worst sufferers, but the average citizen is also worried since security forces are still fighting with militants in the city outskirts and the hills. Earlier, the local newspapers used to provide the most trustworthy information. Now, with information coming in only from those having vested interests, there is no let-up in the tension.

Also affected are politicians and, ironically, the militants themselves. Politicians now find it difficult to hold public meetings without coverage for and about the event in the newspapers. Worse, they can no longer influence policy through columns they got following requests to local editors. The militants too can’t issue public statements in the media. At times the internecine warfare between militants came to light only through the papers.

Public notices, obituaries, remembrances and marriage notices, are among the sections that are also being missed. But at least the local administration were happy now. Kept on their toes by newspapers that regularly pulled up security forces for human rights violations, it no longer has to keep track of such claims and deny them.