PR/6/06-07-PCI 24.07.2006
Alsafa censured upon publication of false report of Human Rights
Violation in Jammu & Kashmir.
The Press Council, on the complaint of Major Ashish Nangia, GS 02 (PR
& Media), HQ. Victor Force, C/o. 56 APO, has
censured ALSAFA, Srinagar, which published a news report with photograph of a
woman in ‘Spot light’ segment column under the caption ‘A dejected woman in
Chhoon Beerwali whose virginity was attacked by the security forces personnel
of 35 PR’ in its issue dated 7.5.2004. The report was, according to the
complainant, proved to be false and untrue by the subsequent investigations
conducted both by the security forces as well as civil authorities.
The complainant, Major Ashish Nangia
alleged that by publishing the incorrect report, the respondent caused
irreparable damage to the security forces by tarnishing and maligning their
image and that such immature reporting drastically affected the morale of the
troops which are constantly required to brave life threatening circumstances
during counter terrorist operations, and added that the incident was a case in
point which exhibited the professional irresponsibility on the part of the
respondent for not having confirmed the report, before publishing the news item
in question. On learning the impugned news report, the
newly elected MP, Ms. Mehbooba Mufti had offered to get the woman in
question medically examined, however the offer was evaded without any
convincing explanation and the reporter had accepted the mistake alleged the
complainant.
The
Press Council held the respondent editor guilty of publishing incorrect and
unverified news report, along with the photograph of the woman falsely alleged
to have been molested by army personnel, and subsequently ignoring the
clarification provided by the army permeating falsehood among the public,
impacting the morale of the defence forces, and adversely affecting the
national interest, thereby violating the standards of journalistic ethics.
Therefore, exercising its powers under Section 14(1) of the Press Council Act,
the Council censured the respondent newspaper Alsafa, published from