I038;B advisory to TV on coverage to terrorists

The Ministry has stated that the advisory was being sent in view of national interest and on Home Ministrys advice.

The interviews with terrorists also provide a platform to them to justify their nefarious activities and obtain coverage on prominent channels,which is seen as a major achievement enabling them to put forward their distorted views to a wide audience. Such undue coverage to terrorists and allowing them to air their views freely can jeopardise national security as well, the advisory reads.

It further notes that in the past some TV channels have broadcast interviews of terrorists and that even a prominent channel had telecast a telephonic interview with a dreaded terrorist who tried to internationalise the Kashmir issue by using the electronic mass media.

Such coverage,the Ministry has warned,can cause confusion amongst domestic as well as international audience.

The advisory follows the directives issued to the media by the Ministry on November 26,2008 and December 3,2008 regarding the coverage of the 26/11 attacks wherein the news channels were asked to exercise caution while airing visuals or sharing information which could jeopardise security or rescue operations.

Court bans broadcast of CCTV footage of blast

Mumbai: A day after some news channels broadcast the CCTV footage of the German Bakery blast,a special court for ATS on Wednesday ordered that 8220;no electronic media should publish,display or telecast any footage or coverage of the incident dated February 13,2010 or those before the incident that has come on the CCTV of German Bakery and Hotel 8216;O8217;,which would lead to the disclosure of identity of witnesses in the case.8221;

Judicial Magistrate first class G G Itkalkar passed the order after the state ATS submitted an application in this regard. ENS