KL NEWS NETWORK
SRINAGAR
Deputy Commissioner Srinagar has invoked his powers within Newspapers Incitement Act, Press and Publications Act and the famous section 144 CrPC to bar Srinagar based newspaper Kashmir Reader from printing and publishing with immediate effect. The order has listed printing facilities which have been asked not to print the newspaper.
In case the order was not implemented, the Commissioner has said that the printing facilities could be seized under the law.
The two page order, the newspaper has been accused of carrying the content which tends to incite violence and disturb public peace and tranquility.
“It has been observed that the contents published in the above newspaper is of such nature that can easily cause incitement of acts of violence and disturbance of public tranquility in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and Srinagar district in particular,” the order issued by the DC said. “Therefore, it has become expedient in the interest of prevention of this anticipated breach of public tranquility to forthwith take necessary precautionary measures,”
The newspaper website broke the news saying that the government sent five cops to deliver the order to the newspaper.
“There are sufficient reasons to invoke the powers vested in me by Section 144 CrPC read with Section 3 of News Papers Incitement of offences Act, 1971 and Section 10 of Press and Publication Act, 1989 and proceed further in the matter by passing a. conditional order of stopping the printing and publishing of News Paper namely Kashmir Reader through printing presses mentioned above,” the order said.
It is directed to Printer, Publisher and Owner of Daily Kashmir Reader to abstain from printing and Publishing of the News Paper namely Kashmir Reader till further orders so that disturbance of public tranquillity is prevented.
“Be it noted, that failure to do so may constrain the the DC to invoke the powers conferred under Section 3 of News Papers incitement of offence Act, 1971 and Section 10 of Press and Publication Act,1989 which contain forfeiture of the printing press and other properties used for the purpose,” it added.
A late night statement issued by the government said that it has “prohibited” the publication of Kashmir Reader till further orders.
“The order was issued a week after notice served to Kashmir Reader to explain its position on a series of items published disturbing public tranquillity and notwithstanding the principles of rules governing the subject”, the statement quoting Dr Farooq Ahmed Lone, District Magistrate, Srinagar, said, adding, “the decision was taken after a series of reports from various agencies and credible inputs providing sufficient ground for the decision taken.”
