Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir):The Editors Guild of India (EGI) on Thursday condemned the "sudden" sealing of the Srinagar office of Kashmir Times newspaper.
In a strongly-worded statement, the guild termed the move as "reprehensible".
"The unprecedented and sudden sealing of the Srinagar offices of Kashmir Times is reprehensible, and had disturbing implications for the media of the two Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh," the statement read.
The statement issued by the Editors Guild The guild also said media publications were adversely affected by the constant communication shutdowns in the region.
"Publications have steadily lost advertising over the last decade. Jammu and Kashmir's communication shutdowns, followed by the pandemic lockdown, have totally stopped the trickle of revenue. The online editions are crippled by the slow internet speed imposed by the government," the guild said.
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"The Kashmir Times, a 55-year-old publication, was forced to shut down its Srinagar edition in March. Instead of assisting the media, which was most needed in these dark times, the administration without any notice took control of the office of Kashmir Times, putting its lock on the door. The newspaper editor, Ms. Anuradha Bhasin, and the staff have been denied access to records, computers, furniture and equipment in the office," it added.
"The Editors Guild of India considers the action of state administration vindictive and injurious not just to the Kashmir Times, but also to the entire free media in the Union Territory. The Guild calls upon the government of Jammu and Kashmir to restore status quo, and to create circumstances in which media can function without hindrance and without fear," the statement read.
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Authorities on Monday sealed the office of the prominent Jammu and Kashmir daily that was allotted to it in a government building, with the newspaper owners claiming that the due process of law was not followed.
The Estates Department sealed the office of Kashmir Times at Srinagar's Press Enclave.
The English daily is headquartered in Jammu and is published from both the regions of the Union Territory.
