BBC says it stands by its reporting on Kashmir

The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), widely respected for its integrity, on Sunday countered the Indian authorities' allegations that its reports on Kashmir were inaccurate or misleading.

In a statement, the BBC said that it stands by its report and emphasised that it was covering the situation in the Valley "impartially and accurately".

According to a BBC report, "Despite the unprecedented security lockdown, thousands of people demonstrated in Srinagar and were met with live fire, tear gas and rubber-coated steel bullets."

"The BBC stands by its journalism and we strongly refute any claims that we have misrepresented events in KAshmir. We are covering the situation impartially and accurately," the BBC said in a statement.

"Like other broadcasters, we are currently operating under severe restrictions in Kashmir but we will continue to report what is happening," it added.

The Union Home Ministry had termed such reports as "completely fabricated and incorrect".

Jammu and Kashmir’s Chief Secretary and Director General of Police (DGP) also denied firing "bullets" on the protesters.

Reuters, BBC Urdu and Al-Jazeera have reported protests and crackdown by the armed forces.

As reported by BBC, the protest was the "largest of its kind" since the Indian government's move on Monday. Pellet guns have blinded several people on ground, but the Centre continues to refuse these claims.

According to BBC, most areas of Kashmir, especially Srinagar, have people saying that Delhi is like a dictator to them, something they do not identify with but has been imposed on them.

Since there has been a total shut down of communication in Kashmir, there are hardly any reports from the ground in the Indian media. A section of the national media has tried to portray the situation in the Valley as “normal”.

However, independent news outlets such as The Wire have carried reports of Kashmiri youth getting injured and blinded in pellet firing by the security forces.

Some of the injured men have claimed that the security forces fired on them without any provocation from their side.

The Editors Guild and other journalist bodies have asked the government to lift the restrictions and let media cover the situation on the ground as is their right.