Journalists injured as CRPF ‘enforces curfew’

Srinagar, August 24: At least six correspondents and one cameraperson of national television channels were beaten up — leaving several injured — as CRPF jawans cracked down to enforce an indefinite curfew in all the 10 districts of Kashmir ahead of the ‘peace march’ to Lal Chowk called by separatists.

Bilal Butt, a correspondent for Sahara Samay, is in hospital with a fractured rib bone while his cameraman Jan Mohammad’s left arm was broken. The other journalists injured were Muzaffar Ahmad of Sahara, Ajaz Ahmad of News X and Cameramen Jehangir Aziz of ETV Urdu.

The CRPF reportedly also prevented the distribution of some local newspapers. “We have decided to shut our offices for today,” an angry General Manager of Greater Kashmir, Abdul Rashid Makdoomi, said. “Neither of our newspapers (Greater Kashmir and Kashmir Uzma) will be published tomorrow. Authorities failed to give us assurance that tomorrow we could distribute our newspapers.” Another major English newspaper of the Valley, Rising Kashmir, too has decided not to publish its Monday edition.

As journalists held protests in the evening, the CRPF said they had clear orders not to let anyone move without a curfew pass issued for today. “They had a pass but for the previous curfew and the CRPF couldn’t let journalists go to their offices. It is the mistake of those who imposed curfew without issuing passes,” CRPF spokesperson Prabhakar Tripathi said.

At the same time, he condemned the use of force, saying it could not be allowed.

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