Kashmir Valley: Journalists protest against internet blockade

Hundreds of journalists on Saturday staged a protest in Press  Enclave here, demanding immediate restoration of internet services in Kashmir.

“Despite enduring physical abuse while discharging professional duties, the journalists have upheld the highest traditions of reportage, with utmost integrity and honesty-to disseminate the information about the situation in Kashmir to the outside world. Notwithstanding the threat to life and pulls and pressure from various
quarters, the media fraternity has been out in the field gathering information as part of their duties,” the protesting journalist said.

The protesting journalist said that an unprecedented situation has emerged since September 12 as the state decided to snap all interest services after suspending the mobile telephony.

This undeclared gag has left the journalist completely grounded.

Never before has the media fraternity been confronted with such a grave situation wherein we are not even able to communicate with other parts of state.

They said that for the past five days media fraternity has been virtually grappling in the dark.

The visual journalists both photojournalists, reporters and videographers have been worst hit as they are unable to send pictures or videos to their concerns.

“The condition is so bad that some of us have been forced to dictate news reports on telephone and in some worst case scenarios send SMS’s which in this day and age mocks at technological advancement including digital India,” they said.

(Reporting by Saleem Iqbal Qadri)