Editors Guild condemns 'muzzling' of media by J&K govt

New Delhi: The Editors Guild of India today condemned the Jammu and Kashmir government for "unwarranted muzzling" of media in the state and termed as "unfortunate" the attempts "to shoot the messenger".

"It is extremely unfortunate that the state government, under fire for its poor management of the law and order situation in the Valley, has sought to shoot the messenger," a statement from the Editors Guild said.

It said the police were sent into the offices of the local media in Kashmir in the wee hours today and copies of the newspapers that had just been printed seized and printing presses shut down.

"Reports suggest that the journalists and other staff working in Greater Kashmir and Rising Kashmir were detained, harassed and their mobiles (phones) taken away by the raiding police parties," it said.

"We are also aghast to note that the media censorship will continue for a minimum of three days if not more," it added.

The statement said this is a direct assault on the freedom of the press in India and the Guild strongly condemns this unwarranted muzzling of the media.

"The Editors Guild of India requests the state government to immediately lift the censorship and refrain from any action to intimidate the press," it said.