Newspapers in Srinagar are likely to go off the stands once again as the Assembly elections. Shoora-e-Jehad, the umbrella organisation of five pro-Pakistan militant groups which includes Hizbul Mujahideen, Al-Jehad, Harkatul Ansar, Jamiatul Mujahideen, Al Umar Mujahideen, and the Hizbullah, has summoned the editors of three dailies "" Greater Kashmir, Aftab, and The Mirror "" from the valley which they consider to be anti-movement. The irony is that the state government does not regard them as friends either. The letter received from Shoora-e-Jehad summoned the editors to Mirwaiz Manzil in downtown Srinagar where the Awami Action Committee headed by Umar Farooq has its headquarters. The summons, which were received on Saturday, has sparked consternation in the journalistic circles. An emergency meeting was called to discuss the issue where the editor of a popular daily said: Enough is enough. We must ask for official security. After all, the Hurriyat leaders are protected by the government. Although the view found favour, the editors expressed the apprehension that the government would try to derive political mileage from the newspersons' predicament.
The unanimous view was that the seeking of official protection was no solution. Equally, the editors refused to obey the summons.
They have decided to wait for the return of the APHC chairman Umar Farooq from New Delhi. The editors have decided to call on the APHC chairman and apprise him of the latest development.
Those who think that they are fighting for freedom cannot do so by denying the press its freedom, said one of the editors who appeared to be fed up with being asked to explain every line written in his newspaper. The pressure is greated on two newspapers - Greater Kashmir and Aftab. The two dailies have never carried the militant press releases on their front pages, while others have failed to resist the pressure.
In one retaliatory attack, militants forced their entry into the office of Greater Kashmir and decamped with equipment worth Rs 4 lakh in 1993. The editors also regret the fact that the administration has been insensitive to their plight.
We are caught between the devil and deep blue sea. While the striking power of the separatists is dwindling, they want to ensure that they continue to run paper races, says an editor.
