Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi (SR)
New Delhi, Aug 14: A section of foreign media on Friday, claimed that over 10,000 people in the valley took part in the protest in Srinagar against India opposing the government’s decision to abrogate article 370. There were reports run by Al-Jazeera and BBC claiming that the Indian Army has resorted to violence and has been firing at protesters in Jammu and Kashmir.
Home ministry officials have reportedly found that the video claiming the protests and violence by security forces in J&K was first uploaded by Al-Jazeera and then picked up by BBC. Three hours later, it was broadcasted by all regional channels of BBC in India.
The central government said these reports are fabricated and has taken strong objection to such footages being run by media channels. As reported in Economic Times, the government of India has asked both Al-Jazeera and BBC to produce raw footage of the incidents they claimed happened in Jammu & Kashmir. The government has asked the channels whether they have any evidence to prove their claims were real. Officials from the home ministry have stated that they are awaiting response from foreign media outlets, but so far they have not received any raw footage or any evidence to prove the veracity of the videos.
The I & B ministry, the home ministry and the Intelligence Bureau are reportedly keeping a close watch over the national and international media reportage over Jammu & Kashmir. Hitherto, four videos and seven reports have been flagged as misleading or fake by the authorities. Home ministry officials also stated that MEA officials have been informed to ensure that unverified footage from Jammu & Kashmir does not get uploaded by any foreign media outlets.
BVR Subramaniam, J & K chief secretary, stated that only stray protests with not more than 20 people have happened in Srinagar and Baramulla and he also confirmed that not a single bullet has been fired in the last week. Authorities have vehemently refuted the videos claiming that 10,000 protesters took part in the rally and Indian security forces fired bullets on them.