Srinagar, May 31(KMW): A day after local Urdu daily Alsafa published a photograph showing state Congress President Prof Saif-ud-din Soz with the Congress President Sonia Gandhi with a derogatory caption, the government Monday ordered the police to seal the newspaper office and directed the newspaper Editor, Ashraf Shaban, to appear before District Magistrate Srinagar on June 23.
Alsafa in its May 30 issue carried the photograph with abusive remarks against Soz and his daughter Nahida.
Following the incident, government initiated action against the Proprietor, Printer, Publisher and Editor of Alsafa, Ashraf Shaban, as warranted in terms of Section-3 of The Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act, 1971.
The District Magistrate Meraj Ahmad Kakroo directed Police to “seize the office of Alsafa newspaper, its publishing material along with its printing press.”
In the order, Kakroo said he had received an application from Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar that Alsafa in its publication had been found throwing the caution, decency, laws and rules to winds while reporting on various issues.
He said, “The comments in the newspaper are highly indecent, defamatory and have potential to incite the general public to resort to violence.”
It said since 2005, police has registered 27 criminal cases against the newspaper for carrying news reports in violation of the laws.
Keeping in view the past record of the newspaper, Kakroo said there was well founded apprehension that the newspaper would again resort to such reporting in future which was unlawful, indecent and defamatory.
Hence, it was necessary to seal the office of the newspaper as it was not confining the publication to the parameters of law, he said. After examining the SSP’s application, the District Magistrate said he was convinced that the publication of the newspaper might incite violence which may affect the public order.
“As such it is imperative, in order to prevent violence, to forfeit to the government, the office of the newspaper, its publishing material and the printing press of Alsafa newspaper,” the DM said.
Kakroo also directed Ashraf Shaban to appear before him on June 23 to show cause as to why the order would not be made absolute. A copy of the order would also be fixed on the premises of the newspaper, he said.
Earlier, the newspaper had also provoked the state government to demolish its press for publishing derogatory and defaming reports. On October 30, 2004, the Peoples Democratic Party-led government bulldozed the office and printing press of the newspaper at Hazuribagh here for carrying some derogatory reports.
The May 30 publication of the newspaper was seen as an insult to journalism by the Kashmir Press Association. The Association hailed the government decision of sealing the newspaper office.
Alsafa in its May 30 issue carried the photograph with abusive remarks against Soz and his daughter Nahida.
Following the incident, government initiated action against the Proprietor, Printer, Publisher and Editor of Alsafa, Ashraf Shaban, as warranted in terms of Section-3 of The Newspapers (Incitement to Offences) Act, 1971.
The District Magistrate Meraj Ahmad Kakroo directed Police to “seize the office of Alsafa newspaper, its publishing material along with its printing press.”
In the order, Kakroo said he had received an application from Senior Superintendent of Police Srinagar that Alsafa in its publication had been found throwing the caution, decency, laws and rules to winds while reporting on various issues.
He said, “The comments in the newspaper are highly indecent, defamatory and have potential to incite the general public to resort to violence.”
It said since 2005, police has registered 27 criminal cases against the newspaper for carrying news reports in violation of the laws.
Keeping in view the past record of the newspaper, Kakroo said there was well founded apprehension that the newspaper would again resort to such reporting in future which was unlawful, indecent and defamatory.
Hence, it was necessary to seal the office of the newspaper as it was not confining the publication to the parameters of law, he said. After examining the SSP’s application, the District Magistrate said he was convinced that the publication of the newspaper might incite violence which may affect the public order.
“As such it is imperative, in order to prevent violence, to forfeit to the government, the office of the newspaper, its publishing material and the printing press of Alsafa newspaper,” the DM said.
Kakroo also directed Ashraf Shaban to appear before him on June 23 to show cause as to why the order would not be made absolute. A copy of the order would also be fixed on the premises of the newspaper, he said.
Earlier, the newspaper had also provoked the state government to demolish its press for publishing derogatory and defaming reports. On October 30, 2004, the Peoples Democratic Party-led government bulldozed the office and printing press of the newspaper at Hazuribagh here for carrying some derogatory reports.
The May 30 publication of the newspaper was seen as an insult to journalism by the Kashmir Press Association. The Association hailed the government decision of sealing the newspaper office.
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