SRINAGAR - Indian government propaganda exposed by Kashmiri journalists in Srinagar with mass protest.
Dozens of journalists in the Indian-administered Kashmir have protested a two-month-old "communications blackout" imposed by New Delhi authorities that has badly affected their ability to work in the disputed Himalayan region.
At least 160 journalists gathered Thursday inside the Kashmir Press Club premises in the main city of Srinagar to record their dissatisfaction with the ongoing strict communications restrictions.
Carrying placards and wearing black badges, the angry protesters chanted slogans such as "End information clampdown", "Stop criminalizing journalists" and "Journalism is not a crime".
The president of the Kashmir Press Club Shuja ul-Haq said journalists had several times approached the Indian government for restoration of mobile and internet services for journalists in the valley.
"They keep promising and say they are looking into it, but so far there has been no action," he said at the demonstration.
"We are protesting against the press gag that the fraternity has faced," Haq added, noting, "Every journalist has suffered and we demand from the government that the communications blackout be lifted."
The internet and mobile phones have been cut in most of the Kashmir Valley since early August when New Delhi scrapped the disputed region's autonomy.