Kashmiris finally get to read newspapers

Local newspapers on Friday hit the stands in Kashmir after their publication was suspended for nearly two weeks due to curfew imposed in the wake of violence in the Valley.

The local newspapers had to suspend their publication after September 13 as authorities imposed curfew to contain violence that broke out after Eid.

Although some newspapers came out with their editions on September 19, they decided to suspend their operations as the security forces allegedly refused to allow distribution of the dailies

In many cases, the security forces allegedly refused to entertain curfew passes issued to mediapersons in the wake of escalation in violence.

Press Guild of Kashmir (PGK), a representative body of newspapers published from Kashmir, on Friday threatened "direct action" if newspaper publication was once again made impossible by "curbs".

During a meeting held on Thursday evening, the PGK members condemned the seizure of newspaper copies at entry points of other districts.

"There is no official ban on newspapers but continued curfew has already made production of newspapers impossible. Moreover, the staff associated with both editorial, management and production divisions of newspapers is being harassed to the extent that cops do not honour curfew passes and at times discard them," the guild said in a statement.

It said, "We have once again decided to resume publication but if the government once again resorts to undeclared curbs, we would not desist from taking direct action."