Two Kashmiri journalists let off in false reporting case

SRINAGAR - Almost five months after a complaint was lodged, Jammu and Kashmir Police have dropped charges of criminal conspiracy against two journalists, police said Thursday.

Highly placed sources here said the charges levelled against Suhail Bukhari and Idris Lone, working for Delhi-based News X channel, have been dropped after it was proved that the duo was not involved in any criminal conspiracy that led to the channel’s airing of the false news about the death of a youth in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district in July.

An FIR was lodged against the two July 10 after the news channel they work for aired the false news about the death of a youth in security force firing in the town,” a state police source said.

The broadcast of the news had resulted in massive protests in Pulwama town where security personnel at local police station were attacked with murderous intentions by unruly mobs,” the source said.

Following directives from the top, the names of the two journalists have been dropped from the FIR and investigations are continuing to identify those responsible for inciting violence on the said date,” the source added.