Srinagar: The Press Council of India (PCI) has sought a reply from the government of Jammu and Kashmir over the summoning of The Kashmir Walla editor for his coverage of a gunfight in Srinagar in May this year.
In May, Shah, was summoned by Jammu and Kashmir police cyber cell over his reporting on the Srinagar gunfight in which at least 17 houses were damaged by the government forces.
The Kashmir Walla had reported the damaging of at least fifteen residential houses, rendering them uninhabitable amid the pandemic, and allegations of loot against the government forces by the local residents. The officials accused me of “maligning the police’s reputation”.
The council has written a letter addressed to Director General of Police and Chief Secretary of the erstwhile state
The letter is written with the subject, “Complaint of Kashmir Press Club against summoning Mr. Fahad Shah, a Kashmir based Journalist in Jammu and Kashmir Police’s cyber cell.”
Below is the text of the letter:
“Sir,
With reference to Council’s Notice for comments dated 11-06-2020 (copy attached) on the subject cited above, no response has been received from your end.
Now, therefore, a statement in reply under Regulation 13 of Press Council (Procedure for Inquiry) Regulations, 1979 may be filed in the matter within two weeks from the data of receipt of this letter to enable the further processing of the matter thereafter the matter will be placed before Council for taking necessary action.”
The letter has been written by the secretary of PCI, Anupama Bhatnagar. A copy has also been sent to the Kashmir Press Club.
