Authorities in the India-controlled portion of the region of Kashmir have seized newspapers and shut down television stations in a bid to stop violent protests over the killing of a separatist leader by security forces.
Officials on July 16 said the “clampdown” was necessary because Pakistani television channels had “launched a campaign aimed at fomenting trouble.”
Around 35 people have been killed and more than 3,000 have been injured during protests in recent days, the worst outbreak of violence in the territory in six years.
Earlier, authorities had imposed a curfew and blocked mobile-phone service to prevent the organization of protests over the killing last week of 22-year-old separatist activist Burhan Wani during a shoot-out with security forces.
Separatist leaders on July 14 called for a 72-hour strike.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif said he was “shocked” at Wani’s killing, prompting Indian officials to express dismay at what they described as an attempt to “interfere in our internal affairs.”
