Panel to decide norms for terror videos’ telecast

New Delhi: The private news channels body, News Broadcasting Standards Authority (NBSA), has said that it will decide whether guidelines need to be issued that Indian Army’s clearance should be taken before airing videos issued by any terrorist organisation related to sensitive security issues.

This comes after Indian Army took up the matter with NBSA of some TV new channels airing clip released by militants of Rifleman Aurangzeb, whom they had abducted and later killed last year in Pulwama, Kashmir. In the video, the militants can be heard saying that they had abducted Aurangzeb to avenge neutralisation of a fellow terrorist who had been earlier eliminated in Army operation. In its complaint, Indian Army had said that it had expressed reservations regarding the telecast of the video and requested news channels that it should not be aired. However, a number of channels aired the footage and in some cases showed it as screen shots. In the complaint, Army felt that telecast of the picture and video glamorised terrorism and affected the dignity of the deceased soldier. The complaint said that channels failed to show sensitivity towards the family of the deceased soldier. “Moreover, Geneva Convention too protects soldiers under captivity from such exploitation,” said the complaint.

NBSA is the body set up by news broadcasters to regulate themselves.

In its order, NBSA said that while it is necessary to keep people informed, the manner of presentation of the news relating to militant incidents in the telecasts by the news channels warrants serious consideration.    

“NBSA also decided to independently consider the need for any guidelines in regard to seeking Army’s clearance in using material issued or made available by any terrorist organisation,” it said.