SRINAGAR: Scores of journalists haven’t been allowed to enter counting centre at Pulwama set up inside Government Women’s College.
Qayoom Khan, working with CNN News News 18, informed Kashmir Life over the phone that half a dozen scribes weren’t allowed inside the polling centre even though the official counting time was 9 am.
“I have a valid authority letter from Chief Electoral Officer but still they didn’t allow us,” Khan said, adding that the district administration officials asked them to deposit their phones on the gate.
“The internet is snapped and if we don’t have our phones, how will we inform our organisations about developments,” he said.
Another journalist said they weren’t even given the details of the candidates leading or trailing.
“How would we know who is winning or what is happening inside? They didn’t allow us to go in,” he said.
“We called everyone in the administration including the deputy commissioner but to no avail.”
Post Script
The journalists were finally permitted to enter the counting premises. Within minutes after the entry, they said they have been consigned to the parking lot. “We do not have access to even the TV screens that flash the details,” one journalist said. “We hear from the announcement that is being made from the loud-speakers.”
