Kashmiri Front Pages Frozen in Time Amid Communications Lockdown
Journalists have expressed concerns that this time, even their Kashmiri counterparts aren’t able to get news out.
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The Narendra Modi-led government’s decision to effectively revoke Article 370 on Monday, 5 August, was headline news in India, Pakistan and abroad. The news pages in Kashmir, however, remain barren as internet and mobile services have been snapped in the Valley since 4 August.
Kashmir has been on edge as the authorities have stepped up security at vital installations and suspended mobile internet services. Former chief ministers Mehbooba Mufti and Omar Abdullah have been arrested, and public movement has been restricted.
Here are a few Kashmir dailies that are suffering due to the outage:
1. Kashmir Reader
An English daily newspaper, 'Kashmir Reader' is published from Srinagar. On their front page, all their reports date back to 4 August.
Under their latest news section, they have 'Avoid confrontation, resolve Kashmir through dialogue: Sehrai to India, Pakistan' which relates to when Tehreek-e-Hurriyat Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai appealed to both India and Pakistan to resolve issues through dialogue on Sunday, 3 August.
In another article, a report on Pakistan denying India's claim of crossing the Line of Control (LoC). India claimed that it foiled an attack on a forward post in Keran sector of Jammu and Kashmir killing at least five intruders.
2. Greater Kashmir
Another English daily that has not been updated is ‘Greater Kashmir.’ Printed and published from Srinagar, the daily has no news reports since 5 August.
On their home page, they still carry the news of PDP's Mehbooba Mufti and former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir being detained on Sunday. The updated report of both of them getting arrested hours after the Centre's announcement of Article 370's revocation on Monday has not been updated on the site.
3. Rising Kashmir
Founded by the late Shujaat Bhukari, 'Rising Kashmir' is also a reputed English newspaper in the Valley.
Their site is frozen too. Their front page still includes reports of Home Minister Amit Shah holding a meeting with the top security brass. It relates to the Union Cabinet meeting that took place on Monday morning, following which he officially made the announcement of scrapping Article 370.
4. Kashmir Observer
The ‘Kashmir Observer’ hasn't been able to post any new reports since Saturday, 3 August.
Their front page story was published on Saturday on how 'Kashmir Remains on Tenterhooks,' which related to people lining up outside petrol pumps and stocking up on essentials amid the chaos created by Friday's order asking Amarnath Yatris and tourists to leave Kashmir.
‘No News From Kashmir is Disheartening’: Indian Journalists
Several Indian journalists took to Twitter to express the ordeal of their reporters and lack of media reports in the valley in the wake of the communications lockdown.
It is bizarre to see that the people who are directly affected by the changes in regard to their state’s sovereignty and autonomy, are the ones left unaware of the news and information circulating freely in the rest of the world.
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