New Delhi, July 11: Pakistan's ISI has given fresh directions to its militants in Jammu and Kashmir to target the "moderate" scribes in the valley in order to terrorise the vernacular press before the forthcoming assembly elections. Official sources quoting wireless intercepts said that the directions came after the Valley press had started condemning the heinous crimes committed by militant groups against innocents.

The sources said that several journalists in the Valley had lodged complaint with police informally that they were receiving threats from militant groups.

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The depletion of Kashmiri elements from the militant ranks has always been a cause of worry for the local journalists as they do not expect any mercy from foreign mercenaries.

Some of the foreign mercenary-dominated groups including Lashker-e-Toiba have been regularly issuing threats to local press to "mend its ways" or face the "consequences", the sources said. Kashmir media of late has been maintaining a balanced view especially on human rights violations by the security forces as well as militants through their reports and editorials.

Yesterday's incident of firing at Shahid Rashid leaving him critically wounded which was preceeded by gunning down and seriously injuring a reporter Zafar Iqbal was seen as a move by Pakistan-backed ISI to "sabotage" the voice of the people.
Bureau Report