The government has banned the transmission of two local television channels as they were telecasting "provocative programmes".
Authorities directed the Superintendent of Police, Srinagar, to ban the transmission of SEN channel and SEN Awaz for allegedly violating the Cable Television Network (Regulation) Act 1995, officials said.
"The two channels have been giving wide coverage to the provocative speeches and activities of secessionist elements for creating law and order problems. The Executive Director of SEN and SEN Awaz has been advised to observe programme code as envisaged under the Cable Television Act," District Magistrate Mehraj Ahmad Kakroo said.
The Chief Editor of SEN channel, Syed Tajamul, rubbished the government claims that they violated any law.
"We were strictly complying with the directions of the authorities and only telecasting news for 15 minutes from 8:00 PM to 8:15 PM. Due to curtailment in news timing, we lost almost all sponsors but we adhered to the government order. I fail to understand why our channels have been banned," he said.