Bengaluru Police Commissionerhas advised television channels to exercise "restraint" and "sensitivity" while reporting on events like sensational murder of RSS activists in the city and celebration of the controversial Tipu Jayanti.
Issuing the advisory by exercising powers as anauthorised Officer under Section 2(a) (iii) and in terms ofSection 19 of the "Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act,1995, city police Chief N S Megharikh has said violating the advisory may lead to prosecution of offenders asper provisions of the Act.
The advisory said it has come to the notice that inthe wake of recent murder of RSS activist Rudreshand subsequent arrest of the accused of this casebelonging to Popular Front of India and celebration of TipuJayanti on November 10, some TV channels had beentelecasting provocative and inciting news reports/programmes.
"These provocative news reports and programmes maycause disaffection amongst the members of public, ignitingcommunal tensions resulting in serious law and order situation in the State of Karnataka specifically in Bengaluru city," it said.
The advisory said news, views or commentsrelating to the murder case and celebrationof Tipu Jayanti should be telecast only after properverification of facts and presented with due caution andrestraint in manner which is in the public interest tomaintain harmony
35-year-old RSS worker Rudresh was hacked to death bytwo motorcycle-borne men on Kamaraja Road on October 16 whenhe was with his friends after attending a Sangh event.
Five persons, including the PFI Bengaluru president, have been arrested in connection with the case.
Also, the Congress government's decision to observe the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan, 18th century ruler of erstwhileMysore kingdom has stirred a major row, with opinion sharplydivided among intellectuals, academia and various communitiesand organisations, who have differing views on his reign.
The event which had led to clashes in Kodagu district last year, had even reached the High Court.
The advisory. Signed by Megharikh, has asked allTV channels to follow provisions of the ProgrammeCode and Advertising Code "scrupulously" and exercise"restraint" and "sensitivity" while reporting such news and"refrain" from telecasting any material which could ignitepassions and create law and order problem in Bengaluru.
The advisory issued in 'public interest'states that care may also be exercised in the choice of words.
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