Police halt reporters' symbolic attempt to reach Kashmir

JournalismPakistan.com | Published 6 years ago

CHINARI, Pakistan — Pakistani police have stopped hundreds of journalists from symbolically trying to cross the highly militarized border into Indian-controlled Kashmir.

The journalists’ leader, Zafeer Baba, said Saturday’s protest was an attempt to report on the situation in Kashmir. India has imposed a sweeping media clampdown there since Aug. 5, when it downgraded the autonomy of the portion of Kashmir under its control.

The region has since been under a harsh military curfew, with thousands detained and all communication and the internet cut. Authorities started easing restrictions last Saturday.

Pakistani police officer Arshad Naqvi said the journalists’ vehicles were stopped around seven kilometres (four miles) from the Line of Control, which divides the Himalayan region. — AP

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