Kashmir papers to resume publication Monday

SRINAGAR - Kashmir newspapers will hit the stands Monday as the local press decided to resume their publication after four days of shutdown.

The local press had suspended the publication of the newspapers last week after the imposition of an indefinite curfew and cancellation of the curfew passes for journalists.

The decision to resume publication came after a meeting between state Information Secretary Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and the local editors.

An official statement issued in the evening said: “On the instructions of Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, principal secretary Khurshid Ahmed Ganai held a meeting with the representatives of media associations in which all issues raised were resolved amicably.”

Several journalists and cameramen were beaten by the security forces in the violence hit areas of Srinagar while performing their professional duties.

“The state government has assured to look into our demands including the recent harassment of the working journalists. We have resumed the publication of our newspapers,” a local editor told IANS.

“The authorities have issued curfew passes to all the staff members of the newspapers to enable them to discharge their professional duties.”

Nearly 60 newspapers are published from Kashmir Valley and went off the stands Thursday.