All SSPs Asked To Take Legal Action If Media Persons Come Close To Encounter Sites based on facts: IGP

Srinagar, April 7: Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir Zone Vijay Kumar on Wednesday said that he has issued written directions to all district SSPs to take legal action based on facts in case any media person comes closer to encounter site or “law and order” situation.

“I have already issued written directions to all districts SSPs yesterday. District SSPs will take legal action on facts,” the IGP said.

When asked who comes under this Advisory, IGP said it implies for both National as well as for local media outlets.

Yesterday he said that the media persons should do not carry any live coverage of any encounter or law and order situation.

“The freedom of speech and expression is subject to reasonable restrictions that should not violate other person’s right to life guaranteed under Article 21 or putting the national security in jeopardy,” he said, adding, “Do not interfere in professional and bonafide duty of police and security forces at encounter site.”

He said no operational content should be carried which is likely to incite violence or contains anything against “maintenance of law and order or which promotes anti-national sentiment.”

The media bodies in Kashmir had already expressed anguish over the comments attributed to Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kashmir, saying that if this is a part of the official policy of police then it appears to be a tactic to coerce journalists into not reporting facts on the ground. with

“if this is a part of the official policy of police then it appears to be a tactic to coerce journalists into not reporting facts on the ground. It also seems to be a part of the string of measures taken by the authorities to suppress freedom of press in the region. Summoning journalists to police stations, filing FIRs and seeking informal explanations for their work has intensified in the past two years, ” the media bodies said in a statement.

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