Srinagar: The state government on Sunday ordered printing presses to stop printing and publication of Kashmir Reader, else punitive measures under various sections of different laws can be invoked against them. The order, issued by district magistrate Srinagar, says that publication of the newspaper can “easily incite acts of violence and disturb peace and tranquillity”. “On the basis of credible inputs it has been observed that the daily newspaper namely Kashmir Reader published within the jurisdiction of district Srinagar contains such material and content which tends to incite acts of violence and disturb public peace and tranquillity,” said the order. “It has been observed that the contents published in the above Newspaper is of such nature that can easily cause incitement of acts of violence and disturbance of public tranquillity in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and Srinagar District in particular,” said the order.
“Therefore, it has become expedient in the interest of prevention of this anticipated breach of public tranquillity to forthwith take necessary precautionary measures,” the order said and asked printing presses to stop printing Kashmir Reader with immediate effect. “There are sufficient reasons to invoke the powers vested in me by Section 144 CrPC read with Section 3 of News Papers Incitement of offences Act, 1971 and Section 10 of Press and Publication Act, 1989 and proceed further in the matter by passing a. conditional order of stopping the printing and publishing of News Paper namely “Kashmir Reader” through printing presses mentioned above,” the order said.
It is directed to Printer, Publisher and Owner of Daily Kashmir Reader to abstain from printing and Publishing of the News Paper namely “Kashmir Reader” till further orders so that disturbance of public tranquillity is prevented.
“Be it noted, that failure to do so may constrain the the DC to invoke the powers conferred under Section 3 of News Papers incitement of offence Act, 1971 and Section 10 of Press and Publication Act,1989 which contain forfeiture of the printing press and other properties used for the purpose,” it added.
At about 8.15, five policemen came to the office to serve the same order.
