Kashmir Protests: Rights Groups Criticize Ban On Newspaper Amid Escalating Tensions

An English language daily in Indian-administered Kashmir was banned after being accused of "inciting violence" amid the growing tensions in the region. Kashmir is witnessing protests that were sparked by the July 8 killing of popular militant leader Burhan Wani.

The ban on the Kashmir Reader has been criticized by rights groups, calling the move an attack on the freedom of the press. Authorities ordered the newspaper to stop publication Sunday. According to a 45-year-old law in Jammu and Kashmir state, publication of newspapers can be stopped if found that it contains material that is an incitement to violence.

The order said that the paper's contents are "of such nature that can easily cause incitement of acts of violence and disturbance of public tranquility in the state."

Amnesty International criticized the ban on the newspaper, a move that comes just weeks after local authorities briefly banned all newspapers from publishing and stopped internet services.

"The government has a duty to respect the freedom of the press, and the right of people to receive information," Amnesty International said in a statement. "It cannot shut down a newspaper simply for being critical of the government."

More than 80 people have been killed in clashes between protesters and security forces, while thousands have been injured since July.

"There was no prior notice or communication from the government," the newspaper's editor Mir Hilal told the Agence France-Presse. "If there was a problem with the content, they could have sought an explanation from us."