Unregistered channels pulled off air in Kashmir Valley

Srinagar : In an attempt to control and restrict flow of uncensored information to the public that could lead to further tension, all unregistered channels, including those from Pakistan, were on Wednesday taken off air in Kashmir Valley by cable operators as per a government order.

The cable operators have been issued strict orders to suspend airing of any unregistered channel, two days after all news and currents affairs programmes on local cable TV channels were put off.

News programmes on local cable TV channels were already curtailed to 15 minutes since June, before they were completely banned.

The latest move is fallout of fresh spurt of violence in the Valley since the weekend that sparked off after a Pakistani channel, Press TV, carried false reports of desecration of the holy Koran in the US.

In the ensuing violence, at least 19 people have been killed so far.

While the Press TV was banned a couple of days ago, the government has now directed strict implementation of an old order, banning any unregistered channel.

Cable operators said they are implementing the directive and all illegal channels, including religious one, are being taken off air.

Meanwhile, newspapers in Kashmir failed to hit the stands for the second consecutive day as curfew restricted movement of local scribes and technical staff.