Kupwara, September, 7: After Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Imam Din ordered to ‘Refrain’ unauthorized/unorganized media persons, journalists call it “Gagging of alternate media” in Kupwara.
According to a report in thekashmirwalla.com by its reporter Peerzada Shakir, there is no such law to register news portals. The report reads,
“The order has come at a time when there is no such policy that allows media persons to register themselves”.
The District Information Office Kupwara on September 7 asked all the media persons in Kupwara to fill the form with columns viz; Name, Parentage, Degree, whether Mass communications, name of the university, organisation they work with, if any person has his/her own organisation etc.
Pir Azhar, Journalist working with video volunteers, an international organisation which works on community based journalism, posted on his social media account that it is an attempt to restrict alternate media in Kupwara.
A letter from deputy commissioner kupwara’s office, which circulated on social media reads
“Government of Jammu and Kupwara” and directed SSP Kupwara to refrain media persons till they sought registration or approval. Though there is no clear order as where from these media persons will get approval and what is the procedure for registration.
It is pertinent to mention here that government has no such policy or law where alternate media or digital media organisations/persons can register.
