Bengaluru violence: Cop warns channels against telecasting inflamatory programs

Bengaluru: In the wake of violent incidents in the city in the aftermath of Cauvery river water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Bangalore city Police Commissioner N S Megharik has advised television channels not to telecast footage of violent incidents like rioting. In an advisory to television news channels and local cable operators under Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act 1995, Mr Megharik had advised the channels not to air provocative clippings of arson and rioting and attacks that may provoke.

''Under this act, I am advising television channels to follow the provisions of the Program Code scrupulously and exercise restraint and sensitivity while reporting such incidents and refrain from telecasting any material which could ignite passions and create law and order problem in the city. ''Any violation of such advisory may lead to prosecution of offenders as per the Act,'' he warned in the advisory.

He said channels should telecast news and views or comments relating to Cauvery water dispute only after proper verification of facts and presented with due caution and restraint in a manner which is in the public interest for maintaining harmony. According to the basic conditions of the Act the channels were bound to follow Program Code as prescribed under the said Act. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting M Venkaiah Naidu, yesterday, in his appeal, from New Delhi, to the people of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to maintain peace, had asked TV news channels to restrain themselves from showing violent incidents repeatedly. (UNI)