Srinagar: The J&K Young Journalists Association (JKYJA) today has strongly come-out against what it has called a gag on the freedom of press by the Govt. of J&K. The restrictions as per JKYJA have been pertinently imposed in the wake of the fire incident that took place at the Shrine of Dastagir Sahib (RA) and has consequently prevented the journalist fraternity from reaching the site of the incident at Khanyar area of Srinagar city and report about the issues.
The largest body of young journalists of J&K has deplored to the hilt and the edge, the restrictions over the movement of the press reporters and other media personnel in fulfilling their professional duties. The Govt. has stopped all kind of reporting from the spot of the incident which as such is against the very fundamental right of expression (U/A 19) enshrined in the constitution of India and promised to every citizen within its domain irrespective of caste, creed, sex, religion, etc.
The JKYJA has also strongly condemned the ruthless and callous thrashing of its President Mr. Ajaz Ahmad War (Editor-in-Chief Kashmir Media Watch) by the SHO of Maisuma Police Station while the former was moving towards his office at Lal-Chowk to carry out his professional duties. The SHO as per eye-witnesses without any provocation caught hold of the journalist and started thrashing him like an animal which resulted in multiple injuries to Mr. War who remains deadly injured and bed-ridden at the moment. The JKYJA has condemned the highhandedness of Police and asked Chief Minister to take a serious and quick action against the aforesaid Police Office.
The JKYJA has called this attack as an attack on the entire journalist fraternity of J&K and has demanded an appropriate action against the official, due to him. The JKYJA has also appealed the Chief Minister (CM) of J&K to ease out restrictions from press and media personnel and allow them to reach out at their sites of reporting and let them carry out their duties in a professional way and allow them play their due role in preventing the fragile situation in the valley which otherwise has every possibility of turning from bad to worse.(KMW NEWS)
