AK Khan requests TV channels not to repeat protest footage

Hyderabad, Feb 21 (INN): City Police Commissioner AK Khan on Monday requested the CEOs of television channels to cooperate with the police and desist from repeating the telecast of the 'Chalo Assembly' by students and 'Chalo Raj Bhavan' agitation by advocates. In a letter addressed to the television channels, Mr Khan said that repeated telecast of violent footages and telecast of such violent scenes using digital modification etc will create a feeling of panic among the general public.

He requested the channels to observe restraint and balance while broadcasting such incidents. Mr Khan said that he was requesting the media's cooperation because it has the power to project sensitive issues in an appropriate manner in the interest of maintenance of Law and Order and preserving a sense of security in the public. Repeated telecast of the same incidents can magnify the sense of insecurity disproportionately among the general public, the top cop said.

Mr Khan pointed out that extra care be taken to ensure accuracy and balance of reportage by vetting and clearance at the highest editorial level. The police chief also reminded the television channels of the guidelines (Programme Code) to be followed by the electronic media given under Rule 6 of Section 5 of Cable Networks (Regulation) Act, 1995 while telecasting. He pointed out that the guidelines say that no programme shall be telecasted if it offends good taste or decency, contains anything defamatory, deliberate, false and suggestive innuendoes and half truths.

He further said that programmes likely to encourage or incite violence or contains anything against maintenance of law and order or which promote anti-national attitudes, contains visual or words which reflect a slandering, ironical and snobbish attitude in the portrayal of certain ethnic, linguistic and regional groups.

Mr Khan said that the Act also stipulates if any cable operator transmitting or retransmitting any programme in contravention to Sec 5 and 6 read with Rule 6 and 7 of the Act, any authorized officer is bound by law to prohibit such transmission of programme in public interest as per Section 19 and 20 of the Act.

The Police chief said that the Commissioner of Police is an Authorized Officer for Hyderabad city as per Section 2 of the Act and media houses would be forced to attract penal actions with imprisonment up to two years or fine up to Rs 1000 or both in case of first offense, while subsequent offences would invite imprisonment up to five year or fine up to Rs 5000 or both.