Srinagar
Journalists in Indian Occupied Kashmir on Thursday protested a two-month-old “communications blackout” that they said is making their jobs virtually impossible. Internet and mobile phones have been cut in most of the occupied Kashmir valley since August 5 when New Delhi rescinded the region’s autonomy.
To go online, the area’s 250 accredited journalists visit a government-run media centre in the main city of Srinagar where they wait often for hours to use one of the 10 computers for a maximum of 15 minutes.
“We are protesting against the press gag that the fraternity has faced,” said Shuja ul Haq, president of the Kashmir Press Club, one of around 160 journalists at the demonstration.
“Every journalist has suffered and we demand from the government that the communications blackout be lifted,” he said before a silent protest march. There are no landlines in the media centre.—AFP
