I&B Urges Private News Media not to Livestream Anti-terror Operations

The ministry of information and broadcasting (I&B) issued a warning to private news stations on Wednesday about the live broadcasting of security services' counterterrorism operations.

The ministry sent out the warning in response to what it described as "extensive TV coverage" of two counterterrorism operations in Kathua and Doda by some news outlets.

"This broadcast is against the Cable Television Networks (Amendment) Rules, 2021, and may result in legal action. Therefore, in order to protect innocent lives and maintain national security, all TV outlets are urged not to broadcast live footage of anti-terrorist operations by the security services. Until the operation is finished, media coverage might only include recurring briefings from an official assigned by the relevant government, according to the statement.

The government said that all TV outlets had already received advisories from it.

The ministry's advice explained, "Rule 6(1)(p) states that no program should be carried in the cable service which contains live coverage of any anti-terrorist operation by security forces."

Two midnight confrontations with terrorists in Jammu's Kathua and Doda districts resulted in the death of a CRPF jawan and the injuries of six security officers. In Doda, terrorists assaulted a joint check station in the high reaches of Chattergalla on the Bhaderwah-Pathankot route, injuring five Rashtriya Rifles soldiers and a special police officer.Around three in the morning, authorities claimed, a terrorist holed up in the Saida Sukhal hamlet in the Kathua district opened fire, seriously wounding CRPF jawan Kabir Dass.

After being taken to a hospital, he passed away from his wounds.

Which regulations specify

The I&B ministry said that it has previously warned all television networks to follow the guidelines. "The ministry's advisory clarified that Rule 6(1)(p) prohibits cable services from airing any program that features live coverage of any anti-terrorist operation by security forces. Instead, media coverage is limited to periodic briefings by an officer designated by the relevant government until the operation is concluded."