Kashmir-based Media houses allege unfavourable working environment

Srinagar, Feb 28: The Kashmir-based Media houses have alleged that unfavourable working environment is being created by some vested interests to sabotage their respective organisations.

A Jammu Kashmir Press Association (JKPA) spokesperson on Sunday said the Printers, Publishers and Editors of some newspapers along with representatives of other publishing houses deliberated and discussed multiple problems confronted by Kashmir-based Media Houses during a meeting Press Club on Saturday. “The meeting was held under the chairmanship of JKPA president Ghulam Hassan Kaloo,” he said.

He said the meeting discussed issue of fake letters sent to government under forged signature of Mr Kaloo to deprive dozens of Media Houses of their means of sustenance. “It was asserted that such communications are not only brutal attack on Mr Kaloo, but a deliberate attempt to deprive dozens of media houses of their means of sustenance,” he said.

He said as a matter of fact, the officers of the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), J&K should not have taken any cognizance of the fake letters, but got them verified by the concerned organization.

He said the matter is already under investigation of J&K Police and much headway has reportedly been made by the investigating agencies. “It is expected that the persons involved in the conspiracy shall be identified,” he said.

He said the members also took serious notice of alleged highhandedness of the officials of the Estates Department, who have evicted the staff of local news agency Kashmir News Service (KNS) and locked its office without any advance notice. “The administration is urged to look into this issue to end harassment of the organization's employees,” he added.